daunting C1 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈdɔntɪŋ/ UK /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/ See IPA manual Freq #24002 Meanings 1 adj Seeming so difficult or large that it makes you feel nervous or discouraged. Learning a new language can feel like a daunting task at first. 2 adj Frightening or threatening in a way that takes away your courage. The towering cliffs looked daunting to the inexperienced climbers. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · seeming so difficult or... formidableintimidatingfrighteningunnerving 2 adj · frightening or threatening... disconcertingdismayingunsettling Word family Derived forms dauntinglydauntingnessundauntingundauntingly Related forms dauntdauntedlydaunterdauntlessdauntlesslyundauntableundauntedundauntedlyundauntedness Etymology AI details From daunt + -ing. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # daunting **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈdɔntɪŋ/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/ **Frequency rank:** 24002 ## Meanings 1. Seeming so difficult or large that it makes you feel nervous or discouraged. 2. Frightening or threatening in a way that takes away your courage. ## Examples - Learning a new language can feel like a daunting task at first. - The towering cliffs looked daunting to the inexperienced climbers. ## Derived Forms - dauntingly - dauntingness - undaunting - undauntingly ## Related Forms - daunt - dauntedly - daunter - dauntless - dauntlessly - undauntable - undaunted - undauntedly - undauntedness ## Etymology From daunt + -ing. ## AI Etymology Daunting is from daunt + -ing. In present-day use, it can mean seeming so difficult or large that it makes you feel nervous or discouraged, or frightening or threatening in a way that takes away your courage. Derived formations include dauntingly, dauntingness, undaunting, and undauntingly. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown