undaunted

/ʌnˈdɔːntɪd/
not discouraged

She faced the challenge undaunted, ready to solve the problem.

She was not discouraged by the challenge and was prepared to solve it.


formal

not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment

Despite the setbacks, the team remained undaunted and continued their work.

The team was not discouraged by the setbacks and kept working.

Undaunted by the storm, the hikers pressed on toward the summit.

The hikers were not deterred by the storm and continued hiking.

Often used to describe someone's resilience or determination in the face of adversity.

Collocations

undaunted bynot discouraged byremain undauntedstay determined despite challenges

Pro Tip

Avoid common mistakes

'Undaunted' is often confused with 'undeterred,' but 'undaunted' specifically implies lack of fear or intimidation, while 'undeterred' suggests persistence despite obstacles. Example: 'She was undaunted by the criticism' vs. 'She was undeterred by the criticism.'

Gold Rule

Use with 'by' for clarity

Always pair 'undaunted' with 'by' when describing what someone is not discouraged by. Example: 'undaunted by failure' (not 'undaunted failure').

Word Origin

From Middle English 'undauntid' (past participle of 'undaunten'), from Old French 'undouté' (past participle of 'undouter'), from 'un-' (not) + 'douter' (to doubt, fear). The prefix 'un-' negates the adjective, while 'daunted' comes from Old French 'douter' (to fear).

Usage Notes

Commonly used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize courage or determination. Often follows verbs like 'remain,' 'seem,' or 'appear.'

Word Breakdown

un-
not
prefix
+
daunt
to intimidate or discourage
root
+
-ed
past participle suffix
suffix
English Dictionary