daunting

daunt·ing | \ ˈdȯn-tiŋ

How to pronounce daunting (audio)

, ˈdän-\

Definition of daunting

: tending to overwhelm or intimidate a daunting task

Other Words from daunting More Example Sentences Learn More about daunting

Keep scrolling for more

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 There’s just no way one of the biggest names in state politics with millions in his dormant campaign account doesn’t change the dynamics of this race — even if this weren’t Alabama, an opponent like Sessions would be daunting. — al, "In Alabama, support for Trump and Sessions are not mutually exclusive things," 30 Oct. 2019 The system that allows people to petition the court directly to have a conviction dismissed or charges reduced can be daunting and cumbersome, Weber said. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego City Attorney clearing low-level marijuana convictions," 25 Sep. 2019 But adhering to the in-depth accessibility guidelines WCAG recommends can be daunting, especially for small to midsized businesses (SMBs), says Philip Voluck, co-managing partner of the Pennsylvania offices of law firm Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck. — Gwen Moran, Fortune, "Beyoncé Was Sued Over Her Website Violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. And You Could Be Too," 21 Sep. 2019 Stepping into the shadow of a player who set the program standard can be downright daunting. — BostonGlobe.com, "New netminders already making their mark across Eastern Massachusetts - The Boston Globe," 18 Sep. 2019 But embarking on an adventure by yourself can be daunting and, at times, challenging. — Florence Derrick, Condé Nast Traveler, "All the Advice, Apps, and Gear You Need as a Solo Female Traveler," 9 Sep. 2019 But even if he's accepted, paying for college will be daunting. — John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The All-Americans': Film Review," 7 Nov. 2019 The proof issues for prosecutors would be daunting. — Jeffrey Toobin, The New Yorker, "In His Dealings with Ukraine, Did Donald Trump Commit a Crime?," 2 Nov. 2019 And while hopping into the role of lovable wart hog Pumbaa in the upcoming reboot of The Lion King was amazing, meeting one of his A-list co-stars was kind of daunting. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, "Seth Rogen Says Beyoncé Got A 'Standing Ovation For Just Existing' at 'Lion King' Premiere," 11 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'daunting.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about daunting

Dictionary Entries near daunting

Statistics for daunting

Last Updated

13 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for daunting

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

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

mot juste

the exactly right word or phrasing

Test Your Vocabulary

Pass the Little Ribbons: A Pasta Word Quiz

Match the pasta to its meaning in English: Rotelle

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.