daunted

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Feeling worried or less confident because something seems difficult or frightening.

   Grammar: Usually used after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'seem'; not usually before a noun.

   Patterns

   • feel daunted
   • be daunted by something
   • not daunted by something

   She felt daunted by the amount of work she had to do.

   He was not daunted by the difficult questions.

   I was a bit daunted at first, but I soon got used to the job.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Past tense and past participle of 'daunt'; to make someone feel worried or less confident.

   Grammar: Takes an object: 'The size of the task daunted him.'

   Patterns

   • daunt someone
   • be daunted by something

   The thought of speaking in public daunted her at first.

   Nothing daunted him; he kept trying.

   He was daunted by the challenge, but he did not give up.

Word forms

Common combinations

feel daunted by

Many students feel daunted by the exam.

not daunted by

She was not daunted by the criticism.

a bit daunted

I was a bit daunted when I saw the long list.

daunted at the prospect

He was daunted at the prospect of moving abroad.

Synonyms and how they differ

intimidated

Stronger and often suggests fear because of someone's power or confidence; 'daunted' is more about a task seeming too difficult.

discouraged

Focuses on loss of hope or enthusiasm; 'daunted' focuses on feeling worried or less confident.

overwhelmed

Suggests being completely unable to cope; 'daunted' can be milder, just feeling put off.

Opposites

Word family

daunt verb

To make someone feel worried or less confident.

daunting adjective

Something that seems difficult or frightening and makes you feel daunted.

undaunted adjective

Not discouraged or frightened by difficulty.

Commonly confused: daunted or haunted?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “daunted”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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