To daunt means to make someone feel intimidated or discouraged by how difficult or scary something seems. When a challenge daunts you, it makes you hesitate or worry that you might not be able to handle it.

A huge research project with dozens of sources might daunt even a good student at first. Learning to ride a bike can daunt a young child who's worried about falling. A steep mountain trail might daunt hikers who aren't sure they have the stamina to reach the top. The word captures that moment when you look at something difficult and think, “Can I really do this?”

Something daunting seems overwhelming or intimidating. Public speaking is daunting for many people. Moving to a new school can feel daunting because everything is unfamiliar.

The opposite is undaunted, which describes someone who faces difficulties without being intimidated or discouraged. An undaunted explorer pushes forward despite obstacles. When you feel daunted by something but decide to try anyway, you can become undaunted. That shift from feeling daunted to becoming undaunted can happen the moment you take your first real step forward.