: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
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
DeLauter embarked on a historic home run binge the first week of the season, carrying the lineup through a daunting opening trip to Seattle and Los Angeles.
—
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Running for governor has proved to be much more daunting.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The idea of becoming the next Alix Earle may feel impossible, but becoming the next largest creator in your space is a different, less daunting goal.
—Stephanie Hind, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2026
All of these stats paint a picture of a nation full of tense, isolated individuals hunkering down at home because the idea of, say, going to a party—let alone throwing one—seems too daunting.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
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Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Running for governor has proved to be much more daunting.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The idea of becoming the next Alix Earle may feel impossible, but becoming the next largest creator in your space is a different, less daunting goal.
—Stephanie Hind, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2026
All of these stats paint a picture of a nation full of tense, isolated individuals hunkering down at home because the idea of, say, going to a party—let alone throwing one—seems too daunting.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Cite this Entry
“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunting. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
daunting
adjective
daunt·ing
ˈdȯnt-iŋ 
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly
adverb
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