daunting

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯn-tiŋ How to pronounce daunting (audio)
ˈdän-
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Newcastle were back in the Champions League after an absence of two decades and Howe was determined to drain energy-sapping emotion from a daunting opening tie against Milan. George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 Replacing Travis Hunter on defense Finding a way to replace Hunter was always going to be a daunting task, as the Heisman Trophy winner served as Colorado’s best wide receiver and cornerback. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025 Giving up that line to the outside was a daunting prospect at first, said 29-year-old social worker Kalybriah Haskin. Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025 The Gophers’ run game is a concern going into a daunting matchup against the defending national champion Buckeyes. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for daunting

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunting. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

daunting

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

More from Merriam-Webster on daunting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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