daunting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of dauntingnext
as in discouraging

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Gators overcame daunting deficits against all of them. — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025 Naturally, going into their next film as soon as possible was paramount to avoid any second-guessing and building up of daunting pressure. — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
The United States does face its own daunting array of problems abroad and at home, but these pale in comparison to those China faces. — Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025 The financial aspect of such a deal is daunting. — James McNicholas, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for daunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daunting
  1. discouraging
  2. troublesome
  3. dismaying
  4. troubling
  5. unsettling
  6. frightening
  7. worrisome
  8. upsetting
Verb
  • Indoor humidity levels are low in winter, and a room humidifier can help plants avoid stress while discouraging pests like spider mites.
    — Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The administration's actions are seen as expanding federal control and discouraging state innovation in healthcare programs.
    — Steve Brozak, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of discouraging
Adjective
  • The new apartment building at 3627-3633 N. Sheffield typifies this troublesome direction.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
  • This classic tale helped make Taylor a star, giving her a showcase as a young woman who dreams of entering a troublesome horse in England's Grand National steeplechase.
    — EW Staff, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of troublesome
Adjective
  • For the Congolese government, the ineffective Western responses follow a dismaying pattern.
    — Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Americans, and a dismaying number of politicians, keep crying for a crackdown on crimes that aren’t happening.
    — F.K. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of dismaying
Adjective
  • Remi Bader's weight loss journey also included a troubling experience with the weight loss drug Ozempic.
    — Athena Sobhan, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Democrats argue that the Signal scandal follows a troubling pattern of careless handling of national security information under President Trump.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of troubling
Adjective
  • The sight of a middle aged woman wearing a purple-and-yellow No. 77 Los Angeles Lakers jersey walking down Sunset Blvd. is still unsettling.
    — Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Pam Morris, 54, a freelance prop stylist, noticed another unsettling trend a few years ago, when a U.S. client asked her to art-direct a crew in Asia remotely for a shoot.
    — Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Good news California began trying to police ghost guns after those frightening findings came out, enacting legislation in both 2022 and 2023 to curtail their unregulated sales.
    — Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • But the bloodshed that unfolded March 6-10 in Latakia and Tartous represents a frightening escalation.
    — Chris Massaro, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • What makes the hormone worrisome is when it's released too often or for extended periods of time.
    — Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey was called for a technical foul after screaming at an official, but that was the least worrisome incident.
    — Ryan Morik, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of worrisome
Adjective
  • Many of them are undoubtedly games when the underdog pulled off the stunning upset – UMBC beating Virginia in 2018; George Mason’s unbelievable Final Four run in 2006; Valparaiso’s 1998 win over Ole Miss; Princeton upsetting UCLA in 1996, etc.
    — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
  • There are no perfect victims, and inappropriate behavior, especially in the workplace, can be complicated and deeply upsetting.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of upsetting

Browse Nearby Words

daunted
daunting
dauntless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daunting. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on daunting

Nglish: Translation of daunting for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
kestrel
Name That Bird Quiz Are you as wise as an owl or just another birdbrain?
See All