daunting

1 of 2

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯn-tiŋ 

ˈdän-

: tending to overwhelm or intimidate

a daunting task

dauntingly

ˈdȯn-tiŋ-lē 

ˈdän-

adverb

daunting

2 of 2

present participle of daunt

Examples of daunting in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Decades later, the character helped Harris navigate a daunting first feature — including a two-week production pause to overhaul a story that was not yet working. — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

The trip to Leeds is another daunting assignment for United in what is usually a hostile atmosphere. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

That could be a daunting task, particularly based on how previous Hollywood mergers have fared. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

That sounds like an incredibly daunting task, considering all the source material available. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of daunt

First Known Use

Adjective

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