daunting

/ˈdɑntɪŋ/

/ˈdɔntɪŋ/

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.

Definitions of daunting

1. adjective

   discouraging through fear
   synonyms: intimidating

   discouraging

   depriving of confidence or hope or enthusiasm and hence often deterring action