daunt
C1-C2 (less frequent in everyday conversation but established in writing and formal contexts)Formal/literary; somewhat elevated
Definition
Meaning
to make someone feel apprehensive or discouraged; to intimidate or dishearten
To reduce the courage or confidence of someone through difficulty or threat; to cause hesitation or fear about undertaking something challenging.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in passive voice constructions ('be daunted by') or as a participial adjective ('daunting'). Implies a psychological effect of an obstacle rather than a physical threat. The feeling is usually about a task, prospect, or challenge, not a person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core meaning or usage. Slightly more common in UK English in formal writing.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries a slightly old-fashioned or literary feel. The adjective 'daunting' is more common than the verb 'daunt' in contemporary usage in both regions.
Frequency
The adjective 'daunting' is significantly more frequent than the verb 'daunt' in both corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Sb] daunts [Sb][Sb] is daunted by [sth][St] is daunting (for [Sb])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing daunted, she pressed on.”
- “Undeterred and undaunted.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describing challenging market conditions, difficult projects, or intimidating negotiations. 'The daunting scale of the merger required careful planning.'
Academic
Used to describe complex theories, vast amounts of research, or difficult intellectual tasks. 'The sheer volume of primary sources was daunting for the young historian.'
Everyday
Used for difficult personal tasks (e.g., moving house, a big DIY project) or intimidating social situations. 'I was a bit daunted by the thought of hosting Christmas dinner for twenty people.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical fields. Might appear in project management or psychology discussing perceived task difficulty.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The veteran explorer was not daunted by the terrible weather.
- The committee's initial opposition failed to daunt her.
American English
- The complexity of the tax code daunts many new business owners.
- He refused to be daunted by the early setbacks.
adverb
British English
- (Rare, usually 'dauntingly') The mountain was dauntingly steep.
- The project was dauntingly complex.
American English
- (Rare, usually 'dauntingly') The price tag was dauntingly high.
- The software appeared dauntingly difficult to learn.
adjective
British English
- She faced the daunting prospect of revising six subjects in a month.
- The cliff path was a daunting sight.
American English
- They took on the daunting task of reforming the healthcare system.
- The list of prerequisites was daunting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Moving to a new country can be daunting.
- He felt daunted by his first job interview.
- The sheer amount of work required was daunting, but she organised a strict schedule.
- Nothing daunted, the team began the long process of rebuilding.
- Even experienced lawyers are daunted by the labyrinthine nature of international maritime law.
- The daunting intellectual rigour of the PhD programme acted as a filter for all but the most committed applicants.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'daunting' mountain you have to climb – it makes you go 'DAW-n't' (don't) want to start.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY IS A PHYSICAL OBSTACLE / THREAT ('a daunting wall of text', 'daunted by the immensity of the job'). FEAR IS A REDUCER OF SIZE/STRENGTH ('The criticism daunted his enthusiasm').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'doubt' (сомневаться).
- Not a direct synonym for 'fear' (бояться). It's the cause of the fear/apprehension, not the emotion itself.
- The adjective 'daunting' is often better translated as 'пугающий (своим масштабом/сложностью)', 'внушающий трепет'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for 'scare' in contexts of immediate physical danger (e.g., 'The sudden noise daunted me' - incorrect).
- Using the active voice of the verb too frequently (e.g., 'The exam daunted me' is less common than 'I was daunted by the exam').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'daunt' or its derivative CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a C1-C2 level word. The adjective 'daunting' is more common in modern English than the verb 'daunt'.
'Intimidate' often implies a deliberate attempt to frighten someone (often a person). 'Daunt' more often describes the effect of a situation or task that is challenging or overwhelming, causing loss of confidence. A person can intimidate you; a task daunts you.
Yes, but it's less frequent. 'The challenge daunted him' is grammatically correct, but 'He was daunted by the challenge' is the more typical construction.
There is no direct, commonly used noun. The concept is expressed with phrases like 'a sense of being daunted' or by using the adjective 'daunting' as a modifier (e.g., 'the daunting nature of the task').
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