daunt (verb)

1. The fearful tales of hellfire and damnation daunt even the most devout believers.

2. The grandeur and opulence of the castle's architecture can daunt anyone who enters.

3. The protagonist's daunting quest to save the world from evil forces is the central theme of the epic novel.

4. Why did the scarecrow become a successful stand-up comedian? Because nothing could daunt his ability to crack jokes!