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 many hours involved in pushing a mortgage across the finish line were daunting, the work tedious and dull, both for me and my clients. —Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Young people juggling part-time jobs and insurance options face bumpy, daunting transitions. —Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025

Many are daunting, and perhaps more deserving of the city’s assistance. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025

Chapel said Boston Public Library plans to digitize 5,000 documents by the end of the year, and if all goes well, grow the project from there. Making a bargain with AI Because of this historic collection's massive size and fragility, getting to this goal is a daunting process. —Chloe Veltman, NPR, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see daunt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for daunting

• flaunting
• haunting
• shantung
• taunting
• vaunting
• wanting

Kids Definition

daunting

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯnt-iŋ 

: tending to overwhelm or intimidate

a daunting task

dauntingly adverb