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

Following November elections, 21 individuals will undertake the daunting task of funding and running a massive school system drowning in debt and facing a highly uncertain future demanding the making of difficult decisions. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

The San Antonio Spurs are a daunting matchup for any NBA team. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

When the school moved up to Class 5A for the 2022-23 school year, the challenge of winning state got even more daunting. —Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026

Launching a congressional campaign in San Francisco is a daunting undertaking, even for someone with deep roots in the city. —Lauren Toms, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of 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