daunting

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯn-tiŋ How to pronounce daunting (audio)
ˈdän-
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly adverb

Example Sentences

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 As a piece of history, the Watergate scandal is a daunting narrative smorgasbord. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Apr. 2023 Buying a new sofa for your living room can be a daunting (and expensive) task. Samantha Jones, goodhousekeeping.com, 28 Apr. 2023 Now Young, who just finished his fifth season, is facing an existential challenge more daunting than any one playoff round: the Narrative. Sopan Deb, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2023 Oh, his four home runs and his 1.013 OPS are daunting, but neither are near the top of the majors. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2023 And so whatever came next felt daunting and dramatic. The Foretold Team, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2023 Change of scene Talking to a colleague about a difficult issue can feel daunting, especially when the discussion is held in the same location where the conflict arose. Anna Shields, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023 The Linda Lindas capture the daunting unknowns of the coming-of-age experience in tandem with the anxiety of being a young person in 2023. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2023 If brights are too daunting, try a dark version of a color, such as burgundy, forest green, or eggplant. Sydney Price, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daunting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see daunt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of daunting was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near daunting

Cite this Entry

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunting. Accessed 27 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

daunting

adjective
daunt·​ing ˈdȯnt-iŋ How to pronounce daunting (audio)
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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