daunting 1 of 2

Definition of dauntingnext

daunting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of daunt

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
But Australia and Turkey appear to be more daunting for different reasons. Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 14 June 2026 Both of these novels center on a single character who is faced with the daunting task of survival, but the stakes are even higher in Project Hail Mary. Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
But in a world where global warming fixes can seem impossibly daunting, limiting methane pollution from stripper wells is the rare low-hanging fruit, Andrew Logan of Ceres, a climate advocacy group, told me. Alex Cuadros, ProPublica, 23 June 2026 Now the 60-day window to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program has begun, and the challenge for these talks is daunting. CBS News, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for daunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunting
Adjective
  • Still, this was a discouraging result for anyone wearing yellow in Kansas City.
    Kellis Robinett, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026
  • The Chicago Blackhawks needed plenty after a discouraging 2024-25 season.
    Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • The show about the white-picket fence Cleaver family and their troublesome son created a foundational image of post-war Americana that has been so influential, the show’s title is a shorthand for this era of conservative nuclear family values.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • One of the troublesome sounds for writers was /w/.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Some recent comments from longtime Voicers have been especially dismaying.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026
  • And in the worst cases — a scenario that plays out with dismaying regularity — the executive who championed the project has moved on to another job entirely.
    George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • The traditional avenue for dealing with this disconcerting situation would be to hire specialist counselors trained as therapists and psychologists and station them at the schools for ready access by students.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • In the finale, Matthew’s scenes with K Callan, who plays Ruth, are really disconcerting.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Still, during a summer when the Tigers are trying to resuscitate their season after a disheartening May, process creates only so much comfort.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 June 2026
  • Though 2025 was a disappointing five-loss campaign that opened with a disheartening 34-7 defeat at USF and ended in similar fashion (38-10) against Washington in the LA Bowl, Spencer Danielson’s Broncos nonetheless won another Mountain West title.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • The exits of the two men, who both identify as gay, will also mark a dispiriting step backward for LGBTQ+ representation in the C‑suite.
    Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 June 2026
  • And so that’s the dispiriting, disquieting aspect of the story.
    Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The early goal from Germany was a bit demoralizing for the South American team, but Nilson Angulo was able to shake it off with a beautiful shot in the ninth minute to equalize.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • The trio also acknowledged how demoralizing and disheartening the recent spate of firings, and the lack of explanation for them, has been.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunting. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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