What does daunted mean?
"Daunted" describes someone whose courage or confidence has been weakened by a difficulty, threat, or overwhelming task. It functions chiefly as an adjective, derived from the verb "daunt," meaning to intimidate or subdue. Interestingly, the word most often works by negation: people are far more frequently described as "undaunted," "nothing daunted," or "not to be daunted," constructions that highlight resilience in the face of adversity. A hiker might feel daunted by a mountain's sheer scale; a student, daunted by an enormous workload. The word carries a formal yet vivid tone, appearing often in journalism, biography, and narrative prose. Its roots reach back through Old French to the Latin "domitare," meaning to tame — the same source as "indomitable," a fitting relative for a word so often used to describe those who refuse to be subdued. To say someone is undaunted is to praise their unbroken spirit.
adjectiveFeeling intimidated or discouraged by a task, challenge, or difficulty; having one's courage or resolve lessened.
- Discouraged or intimidated by something difficult or daunting; typically used in negative constructions such as "undaunted," "nothing daunted," or "not to be daunted."
"Undaunted by the storm, the crew pressed on toward the harbour."
"Nothing daunted, she signed up for her first marathon at fifty."
"He was daunted by the sheer volume of reading required for the course."
The same Latin root that gives us "dominate" also gave us "daunt" — literally, to break someone's spirit of mastery.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of daunted
The adjective "daunted" comes from the verb "daunt," which entered Middle English from Old French "danter" (later "donter"), itself derived from Latin "domitare," a frequentative of "domare," meaning "to tame or subdue." This makes "daunted" a direct cousin of "indomitable," "dominate," and "domestic," all tracing back to the same Latin root for taming. The sense shifted from physical subduing to the weakening of courage or resolve, which remains its core meaning today.
Related word forms
How daunted is actually used
Almost always appears in negative constructions — "undaunted," "nothing daunted," "never daunted" — where it emphasises courage rather than fear. When used positively, it often concedes intimidation while implying persistence. Slightly formal in register but common in narrative writing and journalism.
Easily confused with daunted
"Haunted" means visited or troubled by ghosts or persistent memories, while "daunted" means discouraged or intimidated by a challenge.