daunting

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯn-tiŋ How to pronounce daunting (audio)
ˈdän-
Synonyms of daunting
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly adverb

Examples of daunting in a Sentence

Few things are more daunting than having to speak in front of a large crowd. Shakespeare's plays can be daunting for a young reader.
Recent Examples on the Web
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But child care for two children would cost well over $1,000 a month per child — a daunting expense for a family suddenly relying on a single income. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026 Recreating the worlds of film noir for a big budget superhero show would have been a daunting enough task, but the crew received another challenge when it was decided that the show would stream in both black-and-white and color. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 June 2026 But the Golden Knights have more issues to confront against the Hurricanes than trying to sneak out a win in one of the NHL's most daunting atmospheres. ABC News, 10 June 2026 However, with the World Cup’s new 48-team format, the task of advancing proved less daunting for teams in the qualifying phase and at the World Cup, there will also be more opportunities to advance beyond the group stage because the best third-place finishers move on. Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for daunting

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of daunt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of daunting was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunting. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

daunting

adjective
daunt·​ing ˈdȯnt-iŋ How to pronounce daunting (audio)
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly adverb

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