undaunted
Americanadjective
-
undismayed; not discouraged; not forced to abandon purpose or effort.
undaunted by failure.
-
undiminished in courage or valor; not giving way to fear; intrepid.
Although outnumbered, he was undaunted.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- undauntedly adverb
- undauntedness noun
Etymology
Origin of undaunted
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; un- 1, daunt, -ed 2
Explanation
If you're undaunted, you're not afraid or intimidated. As a great surfer, you remain undaunted as you seek out dangerous waters to ride the biggest waves. The adjective undaunted was first used in the mid-15th century to describe horses that were "untamed, not broken in." These horses must have seemed wildly fearless and intrepid even in the most difficult situations. Similarly, an undaunted person remains courageous and bold when facing fear, difficulty, and danger. Paramedics and firemen are undaunted when faced with a burning building. You must remain undaunted when facing your terrifying calculus homework.
Vocabulary lists containing undaunted
"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
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The Tragedy of Macbeth
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A Raisin in the Sun
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Merz appeared undaunted when talking about his future this week.
From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026
Mahan, undaunted, predicts that with San Jose’s trajectory the roles may reverse.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
Fans were disappointed but undaunted as the show — described by Silver as a “whimsical, vintage circus” — did go on.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025
But as fearful as he is, Spike is undaunted.
From Salon • Jun. 20, 2025
The full force of Clancy’s cold gaze fell on Chubs, but he went on, undaunted.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
