daunt

verb

ˈdȯnt 

ˈdänt

daunted; daunting; daunts

transitive verb

: to lessen the courage of : cow, subdue

… obstacles that would have daunted a man of less intrepid mind …

—Adeline Adams

Synonyms of daunt

• discourage
• frustrate

Choose the Right Synonym for daunt

dismay, appall, horrify, daunt mean to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion.

dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Examples of daunt in a Sentence

the raging inferno didn't daunt the firefighters for a moment

Recent Examples on the Web

Sorting through piles of jewelry can feel daunting because many pieces look similar. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026

As ballot returns continue to trickle in after Tuesday’s primary for governor, Democrat Tom Steyer faces daunting math to reach the general election. —Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026

Sure, four steps may sound daunting, but the magic polish dries so quickly that the full regimen takes a fraction of the time of traditional polish. —Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 June 2026

With seemingly limitless options available, shopping online for furniture and décor can be daunting. —Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English daunten, borrowed from Anglo-French danter, daunter, going back to Latin domitāre "to subdue, bring under control," frequentative of domāre "to subdue, tame" — more at tame entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for daunt

• flaunt
• font
• gaunt
• haunt
• jaunt
• pont
• taunt
• vaunt
• want
• avant
• croissant
• detente

Kids Definition

daunt

verb

ˈdȯnt 

ˈdänt

: to lessen the courage of : make afraid