as in discouraging
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Dissimilar Words
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
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Recent Examples of daunting
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
There are, however, some societal trends which make the battle seem more daunting.
—Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
To combat such setbacks, the Vacaville Islamic Center would probably have to pursue a federal lawsuit — a daunting prospect for an immigrant-heavy congregation with limited resources.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Adjective
And yet, also more questions, questions arguably even more concerning, considering the lack of fight Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors when hope was still alive for something better than a fourth consecutive trip to the daunting pre-playoffs.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
There are, however, some societal trends which make the battle seem more daunting.
—Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Artemis program has a daunting timeline ahead, put forward by Isaacman earlier this year.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
To combat such setbacks, the Vacaville Islamic Center would probably have to pursue a federal lawsuit — a daunting prospect for an immigrant-heavy congregation with limited resources.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunting
Adjective
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But the growth was slightly slower than economists expected, and a measure of prices accelerated at its fastest pace since 2022 in a potentially discouraging signal for inflation.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Both hosts often wept as Guthrie described her emotional journey through the increasingly discouraging investigation into her mother’s whereabouts.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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During the Cold War, this meant limiting the Soviet Union’s influence in the region, while contending with the development of nuclear weapons by two troublesome allies, Israel and Pakistan.—
Jeffrey Taliaferro,
The Conversation,
11 Apr. 2026
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That can be troublesome as consumers are grappling with higher grocery prices and strained budgets.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The keenness of my letdown was dismaying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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But there’s another side to this story, equally dismaying, which is the abandonment of dissidents as a public cause in the West.—
Bret Stephens,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There are plenty of inconveniences frequent air travelers have become accustomed to, from long security lines to shrinking overhead storage bins, but few are as disconcerting as heavy turbulence in flight.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
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About 20 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Mooresville residents report finding dirty water filters turning a disconcerting brown.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Transplant Shock is Avoidable Inviting the opportunity for transplant shock has got to be one of the most disheartening gardening mistakes out there.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
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Sure, the Longhorns (21-15, 9-9) endured an up-and-down regular season and suffered a disheartening loss to Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And so that’s the dispiriting, disquieting aspect of the story.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
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That opened the door for Ramon Laureano to deliver the knockout blow in the form of an RBI single to left, ultimately handing the Red Sox a dispiriting 3-2 loss.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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By the time Ambassador Martin authorized an evacuation, the only way out—since Martin had vetoed a proposal to put refugees on freighters and take them down the Saigon River to the coast (too demoralizing a spectacle)—was by helicopter.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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After the traditionally incredibly dominant US basketball team finished third at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the demoralizing loss forced the best ballers in the country to get serious and learn to work together.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunting. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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