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

Making America’s challenge still more daunting is a major shift in war-fighting technology toward cheap, unmanned aerial vehicles. — Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026

In 1983, the NBA faced a far more daunting future than the NCAA does now, with revenue gaps endangering teams and unchecked free agency hurting the game’s image. — Charles Grantham, Sportico.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Flapping Airplanes is trying to wrangle one of the more daunting technical challenges of the current AI wave. — Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

During their conversation, all three stressed that moving their bodies had an immeasurable impact on their mental and physical health during the most daunting stages of recovery. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 31 July 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