Associations

The word "daunting" means something that feels intimidating or overwhelming. It describes a situation or task that may make you feel afraid or unsure because it seems difficult or challenging.

• Starting a new job can be daunting. This means that beginning a new job might feel intimidating because you don’t know what to expect.
• Climbing a high mountain can be a daunting experience. Here, the challenge of climbing a mountain feels overwhelming due to its height and difficulty.
• Learning a new language can seem daunting at first. This suggests that the complexity of learning a language can be intimidating for beginners.

The synonym "intimidating" is quite similar to "daunting," but "intimidating" often refers more to feelings of fear caused by someone or something powerful, while "daunting" emphasizes the task's difficulty.

Substitution

You can use other words or phrases in place of "daunting" depending on the context. Here are some options:

• Challenging: This suggests a difficult task, but it may not feel as overwhelming as "daunting."
• Formidable: This implies that something is impressive in size or strength but carries a sense of respect as well.
• Discouraging: This word focuses more on the feeling of losing confidence rather than just feeling overwhelmed.

Choosing the right word depends on the mood you want to convey—whether it’s just difficulty (challenging), respect (formidable), or loss of confidence (discouraging).