daunting

1 of 2

adjective

daunt·​ing ˈdȯn-tiŋ How to pronounce daunting (audio)
ˈdän-
Synonyms of daunting
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly
ˈdȯn-tiŋ-lē How to pronounce daunting (audio)
ˈdän-
adverb

daunting

2 of 2

present participle of daunt

Examples of daunting in a Sentence

Adjective 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
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Adjective
That sounds like an incredibly daunting task, considering all the source material available. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026 Doe, however, told campus police her experience was far more daunting. — Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026 While getting permission to use such an iconic song might sound like a daunting task, Sivan said the Queen of Pop herself made the process surprisingly painless. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2026 The pullout, however, leaves a new Iraqi government with the daunting task of loosening Iran’s grip on its neighbor, which has long been trapped in a cycle of sectarianism, foreign meddling and civil conflict. — Sarah Tamimi, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for daunting

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of daunt

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of daunting was in the 13th century

Rhymes for daunting

See All Rhymes for daunting

Browse Nearby Words

daunt
daunting
dauntingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunting. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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

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