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 WebEditors’ Picks Yet even Dudamel may well be daunted by the position.—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 7 June 2024 Starting can seem daunting with so many native Indiana plants, but the state has a growing community of organizations and individuals willing to help anyone interested.—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Apr. 2024 Don’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 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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