- present participle of daunt.
daunting
Britishadjective
Other Word Forms
Explanation
Something daunting can scare you off. If you have a lot of studying to do, it may seem like a daunting task. Good news is you can get through it by working hard. Or weasel out of it by playing sick. Often used in the phrases “daunting prospect” and “daunting task,” daunting describes something that you are not looking forward to doing. Having to fill out complicated tax forms every year is a daunting task for many people. Once a daunting task is complete, you no longer describe it as daunting, but instead can call it a job well done, or at least another life experience survived.
Vocabulary lists containing daunting
The Alchemist
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"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 1
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Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It definitely felt daunting to adviser Robert Persichitte when he employed this strategy himself.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Minghella’s film is an utterly beautiful and romantic story, a daunting feat considering how equally beautiful, though different, its source material is.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Even in less expensive cities, the prospect of having a child can be financially daunting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
But, beyond the concerns about the future of the business and the daunting costs of the AC unit, Griffin emphasized the importance of community during a challenging time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Guo Ming, director of the China National Space Administration, examined the daunting pile of paperwork at his desk.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
