ENGLISH
REFERENCE

daunting

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdɔntɪŋ// UK //dˈɔːntɪŋ// daunt·ing

adj. causing you to feel nervous because something seems very difficult or large. You use this when a task feels bigger than you are ready for.

adj. causing fear, anxiety, or a sense of inferiority due to perceived difficulty or magnitude. Typically used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'seem' or 'feel'.


SIMPLE

The mountain looked daunting in the fog.

CONTEXTUAL

Writing the thesis felt daunting until she broke it into small chapters.

COMPLEX

The sheer scale of the renovation project was daunting, yet the architect’s clear plan made the work feel manageable.

Synonyms
Usage

Often modified by 'very' or 'quite'.

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