as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
the raging inferno didn't daunt the firefighters for a moment
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Recent Examples of daunt
The fashion industry, with its cutthroat and trend-cycling nature, is as daunting as ever to enter.
—
Kaio Cesar, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
As daunting as the task was, Gold and Ware had nine months to search for the boys.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 May 2026
But to successfully sell a sequel 20 years after the events of the first film was beyond daunting, even with Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci on board to return, along with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
Starting over can be daunting, but Pagliocca’s difficult road has prepared him, according to his father.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunt
Kaio Cesar, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
As daunting as the task was, Gold and Ware had nine months to search for the boys.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 May 2026
But to successfully sell a sequel 20 years after the events of the first film was beyond daunting, even with Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci on board to return, along with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
Starting over can be daunting, but Pagliocca’s difficult road has prepared him, according to his father.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunt
Verb
-
That impulse is alive and well in California’s legislature, where instead of confronting allegations that tax dollars are being wasted, Democrats are trying to discourage citizen-journalists from reporting on them.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
11 May 2026
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This tendency, called marcescence, may have developed a few million years ago to discourage large mammals from browsing on trees in winter due to the bitterness of the tannin-rich leaves surrounding buds.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
Verb
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As mentioned, lounges are often overcrowded, and taking up more than your fair share of space can frustrate fellow travelers.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
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Prices are rising at a time when Americans are already frustrated by the high cost of living.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Daunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunt. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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