daunt

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb daunt contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of daunt are appall, dismay, and horrify. While all these words mean "to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion," daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

When could appall be used to replace daunt?

In some situations, the words appall and daunt are roughly equivalent. However, appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

When is dismay a more appropriate choice than daunt?

While the synonyms dismay and daunt are close in meaning, dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

When might horrify be a better fit than daunt?

The words horrify and daunt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

Examples of daunt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Although Netflix and Edelman maintain final cut of the film, a Prince documentary without his music would face daunting, if not insurmountable, creative and commercial obstacles. Jem Aswad, Variety, 18 July 2024 Advertisement The job is one of the toughest in law enforcement, experts say. LAPD chiefs have a national voice in shaping public safety policy and face daunting challenges at home. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024 Although no one has ever made money betting against the House of Saud, the monarchy rules over a quintessentially dysfunctional postwar Arab state, one that faces daunting political, economic, and social stresses. Kenneth M. Pollack, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016 Oleh is also daunted by uncertainty about Ukraine’s plan to win. Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 June 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.

Thesaurus Entries Near daunt

Cite this Entry

“Daunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunt. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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