daunting

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯn-tiŋ 

ˈdän-

: tending to overwhelm or intimidate

a daunting task

dauntingly

ˈdȯn-tiŋ-lē 

ˈdän-

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

The San Francisco Giants were already faced with the daunting reality of finishing this season with a skeleton crew. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Private capital possesses a singular, untapped power to confront the most daunting global crises. — James Chen, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

For example, in Oakland, he twice was tasked with daunting repair jobs. — Carl Steward, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Fall is closer than I’d like to admit, and with the impending change comes a daunting task—shopping for shoes that can bridge the gap between seasons. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of daunt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for daunting

• flaunting
• haunting
• taunting
• vaunting
• wanting

Kids Definition

daunting

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯnt-iŋ 

: tending to overwhelm or intimidate

a daunting task

dauntingly adverb