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 WebWill moviegoers be daunted by eight hours of John, Paul, George and Ringo on the big screen?—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, leaders in Kyiv are trying to find a new path forward amid ferocious Russian assaults, while facing a series of daunting unknowns and hard choices.—Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Consequently, foster youth face daunting odds compared to their peers, experiencing higher rates of mental health issues, academic struggles, behavioral challenges and delinquency.—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024 Those conclusions highlight a reality that has daunted many presidential administrations, as the lure of American opportunity draws waves of migrants at a scale that overwhelms the limited legal pathways to allow them in.—USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 Councilmember Joe LaCava said residents daunted by changes to their neighborhoods aimed at boosting mobility should be open-minded.—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2023 China’s rise and Russia’s revanchism pose daunting geopolitical challenges in a world of intense strategic competition in which the United States no longer enjoys uncontested primacy and in which existential climate threats are mounting.—William J. Burns, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024 But nothing seems to daunt this team, which pulls from a deeper bag of answers than any other in the NFL.—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2024 But Josiah was never one to be daunted by the task of learning the arcane details of a new machine.—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daunt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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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