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Synonyms

daunting

British  
/ ˈdɔːntɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing fear or discouragement; intimidating

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • dauntingly adverb

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.

Finding an adviser for such sensitive matters can feel daunting.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

That’s especially important when you consider how daunting many cancer therapies are.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

She said it could be daunting for young people to experience that change.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

While Will can understand how using Claude Code might be daunting to a newbie, he assures those curious about building that it’s not so hard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The other major impediment, equally daunting as the compensation problem at first glance, even more so upon reflection, was the relocation of the freed slaves.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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.