: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
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
In director Hasan Hadi’s first full-length film, 9-year-old Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) is put in charge of gathering the supplies for her school’s offering, a daunting task given the punishing sanctions that were imposed on the country at the time.
—
David Faris, TheWeek, 3 Feb. 2026
But closing for any amount of time can be a daunting proposition for independent restaurant owners.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026
The Coast Guard’s Sector Boston commander, Jamie Frederick, has said icy temperatures and stormy conditions made finding survivors at night difficult, a task made even more daunting by a nor’easter approaching the East Coast over the weekend.
—Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026
Johnson faces a daunting challenge ahead, trying to muscle the funding legislation through the House while Democrats are refusing to provide the votes for speedy passage.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
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David Faris, TheWeek, 3 Feb. 2026
But closing for any amount of time can be a daunting proposition for independent restaurant owners.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026
The Coast Guard’s Sector Boston commander, Jamie Frederick, has said icy temperatures and stormy conditions made finding survivors at night difficult, a task made even more daunting by a nor’easter approaching the East Coast over the weekend.
—Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026
Johnson faces a daunting challenge ahead, trying to muscle the funding legislation through the House while Democrats are refusing to provide the votes for speedy passage.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Cite this Entry
“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunting. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
daunting
adjective
daunt·ing
ˈdȯnt-iŋ 
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly
adverb
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