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

And yet, his latest docuseries Monsters of God might just have brought him face-to-face with his most daunting subjects yet. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Lucky for you, cleaning grout doesn’t have to be a daunting task. — Abid Haque, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026

And while that was a bit daunting, Aster says Barbie’s impressive history was actually a blessing in disguise. — Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

If the mandoline method is too daunting, try making thin zucchini ribbons with a vegetable peeler. — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 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