as in discouraging
Related Words
Relevance
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
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
Sridhar Ramaswamy, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
Replacing Hoover will be a daunting task, but not impossible.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Dec. 2025
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Shopping right after the holidays can feel daunting.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Adjective
This shift will be both liberating and daunting.
—Sridhar Ramaswamy, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
Replacing Hoover will be a daunting task, but not impossible.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
Now, first-year coach David Adelman is tasked with navigating them through a daunting series of short- and long-term obstacles.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Shopping right after the holidays can feel daunting.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for daunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunting
Adjective
-
If the gap between self and fitfluencer seems too wide, comparisons become discouraging, not motivating.—
Abby Frank,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Nothing creates a discouraging organizational structure more than uncertainty.—
Josh Browning,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
There’s nothing more troublesome than a government that finds no problem too small to care about — and governments have a terrible track record for solving large ones.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
-
However, replacing 2/3 of your outfield in one offseason can be troublesome at times.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Democratic leaders actually were troubled by Mamdani’s rise (although their preference for a disgraced former governor was equally dismaying), but Democratic voters handed Mamdani a solid victory despite his radical positions.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
28 Nov. 2025
-
On top of this dismaying thought comes the realization that the AI is available 24x7 and at a low cost or perhaps even free.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
-
The macro view is more disconcerting.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
For those dealing with the disheartening struggles of infertility, this is good news.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
29 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of the day, the result was a bit disheartening.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In Week 16, Detroit had a first and goal from the 1-yard line in the final seconds against the Pittsburgh Steelers but failed to score the go-ahead touchdown in a dispiriting loss.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
26 Dec. 2025
-
Then there’s the somewhat dispiriting fact that stadium-level rock bands are dwindling for younger generations, so much so that these offers to push out older acts are almost done by necessity.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite suffering demoralizing losses in 2024 and grappling with persistently low approval ratings, Democrats have reasons to be optimistic about the 2026 cycle.—
Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The Jays were able to put their demoralizing, 18-inning loss the night before behind them as the bats came back to life.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunting. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share