DAUNTING Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

daunting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of daunting

as in discouraging

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

daunting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of daunt

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

Adjective

The trip to Leeds is another daunting assignment for United in what is usually a hostile atmosphere. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 That could be a daunting task, particularly based on how previous Hollywood mergers have fared. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

The patriarchal, academic, hierarchical setting of hospitals, particularly university hospitals, is overwhelmingly daunting for me. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 Gene therapy can be a daunting process that may deter some patients. — Steven Ross Johnson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for daunting

Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunting

Adjective

The charges were filed less than two weeks before the midterm election, breaking with longstanding DOJ guidance discouraging actions that could affect upcoming political races.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Conventional wisdom suggests such discouraging numbers would depress turnout.

— Christopher Miller, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of discouraging

Verb

But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.

— The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
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

Definition of frustrating

Adjective

To strengthen the troublesome solar cell interface, the NIMTE research team inserted an ultra-thin indium chloride intermediate layer that undergoes a localized reaction upon heating.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Astronomers were left with the troublesome task of pairing up two weird objects, smushing them together and hoping to get Lucifer as a result.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of troublesome

Adjective

Most dismaying to me was the group’s seemingly endless tinkering with the menu at Rowdy Rooster, its fast-casual fried-chicken spot, including a downgrade in the chicken’s range of heat.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Some recent comments from longtime Voicers have been especially dismaying.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026

Definition of dismaying

Adjective

The effect is especially disconcerting as this father and daughter navigate glad-handers and former Nazi collaborators in West Germany who are anxious to bury the past.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Like Biden, in this cycle Lula found that a disconcerting number of his compatriots were unmoved by his calls to save democracy from those who would seek to undermine it—or didn’t buy into his rhetoric in the first place.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of disconcerting

Adjective

Perhaps the most disheartening part, though, was the fact that the Falcons offense had to operate on a silent count at home.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
One of the more disheartening developments for the Eagles has been their complete inability to generate productive drives upon returning from halftime.

— Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of disheartening

Adjective

Without spoiling the plot, there’s a dispiriting note at the end of the film as text on-screen informs us that some very high percentage of Americans get their news from Facebook to this day.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
For Tampa, what was even more dispiriting than falling to 0-3 was that quarterback Baker Mayfield left with a dislocated thumb that puts his active league-high streak of 54 consecutive starts in jeopardy.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of dispiriting

Browse Nearby Words

daunted

daunting

dauntless

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Style

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunting. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of daunting

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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