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

And at the risk of stating the obvious, global warming is supercharging the city’s already daunting heat. —Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025

In the fall, with more family potlucks and football-watching with friends, a few easy, go-to dress options are sensible, but finding the right feel and fit for a dress can be daunting. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025

As someone who wears some version of sneakers and jeans almost every day, slipping these on for something other than a work trip felt daunting at first. —Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025

Speaking up about that, however, can be daunting, Jacob said. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025

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