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

There’s head-to-toe Helly Hansen rain gear in every closet and a fireplace in every room to make the spring climes of the Pacific Northwest feel less daunting. — Alexandra Marvar, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Starting with a few basic questions can make the process less daunting. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

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

For Obsession writer-director Curry Barker, rolling out a follow-up to the biggest surprise breakout of the year is a pretty daunting task — especially given Barker cast himself in the film’s lead role. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 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