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.
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Adjective
Maintaining the pristine whiteness and fluffy texture of your towels doesn’t have to be a daunting task. — Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026 And for some remote workers, the daunting solution is to care for their kids themselves while working. — Caitlyn Collins, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026 From packing cubes and toiletry bags to luggage locks and anti-theft crossbodies, Amazon is packed with practical finds that make traveling light less daunting. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2026 There’s head-to-toe Helly Hansen rain gear in every closet and a fireplace in every room to make the spring climes of the Pacific Northwest feel less daunting. — Alexandra Marvar, Vogue, 20 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for daunting

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