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
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But John Michell was not daunted by this.—Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025 The climate crisis is urgent and can feel daunting at times, but the solutions are within reach and many exist right now.—Adam Gardner, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025 The level of self-reflection and personal accountability required to assess and develop a healthy organizational culture can be daunting.—Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 For millions of elderly or disabled people, these were daunting or impossible options.—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for daunt
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French danter, daunter, from Latin domitare to tame, frequentative of domare — more at tame
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