DAUNTING Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

daunting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of daunting

as in discouraging

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

daunting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of daunt

as in frustrating

to lessen the courage or confidence of the raging inferno didn't daunt the firefighters for a moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of daunting

Adjective

Google says this allows users to complete more daunting tasks in a single step. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026 Keeping that series on the air, let alone growing its audience over time, can be a daunting task. — Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

The father-son tale at the center was what drove Garelick to take on such a daunting project. — Miki Hellerbach, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 But when his first child was born in 2012, what was supposed to be a joyous new experience quickly turned daunting after his wife was hospitalized. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for daunting

Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunting

Adjective

His fellow scientists are neither comforting nor discouraging.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
Then a rough 2025, a crowded rotation in 2026 and a discouraging bullpen stint led Pfaadt back to Reno.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of discouraging

Verb

But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.

— The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026

Definition of frustrating

Adjective

The heating oil situation is particularly troublesome here for low-to-moderate residents who rely on the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program to keep warm.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Some oil tankers have made their way through the strait, but LNG tankers are a more troublesome target, according to Robin Mills, a non-resident fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and CEO of Qamar Energy.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of troublesome

Adjective

Most dismaying to me was the group’s seemingly endless tinkering with the menu at Rowdy Rooster, its fast-casual fried-chicken spot, including a downgrade in the chicken’s range of heat.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Some recent comments from longtime Voicers have been especially dismaying.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026

Definition of dismaying

Adjective

One highlight for me was my session with an energy healer named Djik Dewa, who balances out the body’s chakras with gentle massage, chanting, and deep eye contact—a disconcerting but powerful experience.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Ultimately, swarms of AI could combine in rather disconcerting and dangerous ways.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of disconcerting

Adjective

Amid disheartening and disruptive school closures and thousands of position cuts districts have been forced to implement due to million-dollar budget shortfalls, vacancies have continued to climb.

— Andrew Spar, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
This has been especially disheartening because the strategy and RPG elements the series is known for have so far been excellent.

— Jay Peters, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of disheartening

Adjective

For Tampa, what was even more dispiriting than falling to 0-3 was that quarterback Baker Mayfield left with a dislocated thumb that puts his active league-high streak of 54 consecutive starts in jeopardy.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026
That means that the richest and most powerful country in the world has seen a dramatic and dispiriting decline in opportunity for the less well off.

— John Lanchester, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of dispiriting

Adjective

Zibanejad was a deserving team MVP in an otherwise demoralizing 2025-26 campaign, posting his highest totals in three years for goals (34) and points (78).

— Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Suddenly, in this most demoralizing scenario, USC is out of the Playoff picture at the halfway point of the season.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of demoralizing

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daunted

daunting

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“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunting. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of daunting

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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