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 WebDon’t be daunted by the price per pound; mushrooms are mostly air, so a few ounces will go far.—Fatima Khawaja, Saveur, 31 May 2024 Individually, these efforts can be dismissed as a drop in the bucket in the context of daunting homelessness and rising housing prices.—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2024 Like their counterparts in finance, these executives face daunting business challenges, but the innovations are inspiring.—Diane Brady, Fortune, 16 May 2024 From serene morning walks surrounded by horses and foals being born to daunting videos of beautiful animals getting hurt in the wild, Flying L Ranch is dedicated to sharing the truth.—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for daunt
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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