daunting

adjective

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

Examples of daunting in a Sentence

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
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.
Eliza Griswold 8 hours ago Prepare to Wait for the Pennsylvania Results Photograph by Shannon Stapleton / Reuters At 7 A.M. today, Pennsylvania’s election workers began the daunting task of processing more than 1.6 million mail-in ballots. The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024 Golden State pulled away in the second half for a 104-89 victory in its last home game before heading on a daunting road trip that includes contests against the Celtics, Thunder and Cavaliers. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024 The idea of vigorous exercise can be daunting to people who are out of condition, Manmadhan said. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 Finding the right type of professional support for one’s mental health can be daunting, so Psych Hub exists to make the work more accessible by simplifying it. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for daunting 

Word History

Etymology

see daunt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near daunting

Cite this Entry

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunting. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

daunting

adjective
daunt·​ing ˈdȯnt-iŋ How to pronounce daunting (audio)
: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
a daunting task
dauntingly adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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