as in discouraging
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Dissimilar Words
as in frustrating
to lessen the courage or confidence of
the raging inferno didn't daunt the firefighters for a moment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of daunting
Prodromos Yannas, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
Without this foresight and the counsel of the Premier League — whose officials conduct site visits at all the clubs in the running for promotion early each new year — an already daunting task would have been made nigh-on impossible.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 May 2026
But to successfully sell a sequel 20 years after the events of the first film was beyond daunting, even with Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci on board to return, along with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Adjective
The task of identifying and selecting the appropriate scientific information intended for public consumption and reflection is a daunting if not impossible task confronted by science journalists, given that today more than 1 million scientific reports are published every year.
—Prodromos Yannas, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
Without this foresight and the counsel of the Premier League — whose officials conduct site visits at all the clubs in the running for promotion early each new year — an already daunting task would have been made nigh-on impossible.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Verb
As daunting as the task was, Gold and Ware had nine months to search for the boys.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 May 2026
But to successfully sell a sequel 20 years after the events of the first film was beyond daunting, even with Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci on board to return, along with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunting
Adjective
-
In another discouraging signal, price increases accelerated by more in April than economists expected even after excluding gasoline and food costs.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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The first half of this homestand has been particularly discouraging because the Phillies, though rich in talent, came to Miami at 12-19 before winning three of four at loanDepot Park.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
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Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The Italian town is not the first area to struggle with troublesome peacocks or other birds.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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One of the best ways to deter these troublesome insects is to lure them away from your zucchini crops by planting Hubbard squash nearby as a trap crop.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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And in the worst cases — a scenario that plays out with dismaying regularity — the executive who championed the project has moved on to another job entirely.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
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This dismaying course of events reflects a major problem with bio-pics: that the involvement of interested parties—whether the subjects themselves, their families, or other rights holders—risks distorting a life story by sanitizing it, leaving out events that would make the subject look bad.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The abruptness is disconcerting but can be overcome by learning the pedal’s nuances.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
That is really, really, really disconcerting.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
And now this disheartening accounting error.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
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Transplant Shock is Avoidable Inviting the opportunity for transplant shock has got to be one of the most disheartening gardening mistakes out there.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And so that’s the dispiriting, disquieting aspect of the story.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
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That opened the door for Ramon Laureano to deliver the knockout blow in the form of an RBI single to left, ultimately handing the Red Sox a dispiriting 3-2 loss.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Canadiens aren’t going anywhere, and another loss would put the Sabres in a demoralizing 3-1 hole.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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The demoralizing loss sent the Lakers into a three-game tailspin just a couple weeks before the playoffs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunting. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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