daunt

[dawnt, dahnt]

verb (used with object)

1. to overcome with fear; intimidate.

   to daunt one's adversaries.

   Synonyms: frighten, dismay, subdue, overawe

2. to lessen the courage of; dishearten.

   Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.

   Synonyms: dispirit, discourage
   Antonyms: encourage

daunt

/ dɔːnt /

verb

1. to intimidate

2. to dishearten

Other Word Forms

• daunter noun
• dauntingly adverb
• dauntingness noun
• undaunting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of daunt¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English da(u)nten, from Anglo-French da(u)nter, Old French danter, alteration of donter (probably by influence of dangier “power, authority”; danger ), from Latin domitāre “to tame,” derivative of domitus “tamed,” past participle of domāre “to tame”

Word History and Origins

Origin of daunt¹

C13: from Old French danter, changed from donter to conquer, from Latin domitāre to tame

Example Sentences

The task ahead is daunting - tens of thousands of homes are likely to need repairs.

From BBC

Starkey said the $2.1 billion price tag for the tunnel is daunting, but “we’re just hoping this is a better option fiscally” in the long run.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the scene’s daunting challenges: He has to deliver a weeping, Method-style reading of a restaurant menu.

From Los Angeles Times

But that nomination is three years away — and meanwhile, Democrats face daunting hurdles.

From Los Angeles Times

So, the next day, Mr Van Ysseldyk travelled to the dump to begin the daunting task of searching through 18 tonnes of organic waste.

From BBC

Related Words

• baffle 
• deter 
• discourage 
• dishearten 
• dismay 
• dispirit 
• horrify 
• intimidate 
• scare 
• subdue 
• terrify 

When To Use

What does daunt mean?

Daunt means to intimidate.This intimidation can be a pretty serious fear, like that of a warrior who daunts enemies in battle. More commonly, though, daunt means to intimidate in a way that’s disheartening, like a task that daunts you because it seems impossible.People who are intimidated in such a way can be described with the adjective daunted. An even more commonly used adjective is daunting, which comes from the continuous tense (the -ing form) of daunt. If a task is daunting, it’s intimidating or overwhelming in a way that makes you not even want to try to do it.Example: When I first started at this job, I was really daunted by my first assignment, which was reorganizing 10 years’ worth of files.