daunt

[ dawnt, dahnt ]

/ dɔnt, dɑnt /

verb (used with object)

to overcome with fear; intimidate: to daunt one's adversaries.

to lessen the courage of; dishearten: Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.

Words nearby daunt

daughter-in-law, daughterly, daughters of the american revolution, daumier, dauncy, daunt, daunting, dauntless, daunus, dauphin, dauphine

Origin of daunt

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

SYNONYMS FOR daunt

1 overawe, subdue, dismay, frighten.

2 discourage, dispirit.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR daunt ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR daunt

2 encourage.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR daunt ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM daunt

daunt·ing·ly, adverbdaunt·ing·ness, nounun·daunt·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for daunt

Nothing could daunt the Jesuits—not the loss of all they had, nor protracted suffering, nor cruel death.
Pictures of Canadian Life|J. Ewing Ritchie
So I am a fearsome man in the dark, though in the day no man may daunt me.
The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow|Allen French
Apart from this essential failure, Mrs. Daunt knew only one other.
Paths of Judgement|Anne Douglas Sedgwick
But that did not daunt those whose hearts were in the cause.
The Slipper Point Mystery|Augusta Huiell Seaman

It seemed to grow hotter the further he pushed; but even that did not daunt him.
The Banner Boy Scouts|George A. Warren

British Dictionary definitions for daunt

daunt

/ (dɔːnt) /

verb (tr; often passive)

to intimidate

to dishearten

Derived forms of daunt

daunter, noun

Word Origin for daunt

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012