daunting
Hard to face
Daunting describes something that seems intimidating or difficult to face—a task, challenge, or prospect that makes you hesitate before tackling it: The daunting task of clearing out my parents' house took months.
A daunting opponent appears formidable.
The word suggests discouragement without implying impossibility.
Inspiring fear or unease
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- insurmountableImpossible to overcome
- ambitiousStrongly desiring achievement
monumental · arduous · steep · uphill · demanding · rigorous · grueling · strenuous
Inspiring terror or alarm
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- scaryCausing fright
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
- nerve-wrackingCausing extreme anxiety
alarming · forbidding · menacing · ominous · chilling · paralyzing · petrifying · hair-raising
Causing loss of hope
- dispiritingCausing loss of enthusiasm
- deflatingReleasing contained gas
- demoralizingDestroying confidence or hope
- discouragingCausing loss of confidence
off-putting · deterring · dismaying · sobering · humbling · crushing · defeating · overwhelming
Extremely great in size
- immenseExtremely large in scope
- enormousExtremely large in scale
- massiveExtremely large and heavy
- staggeringShockingly impressive or unsteady
mind-boggling · bewildering · incomprehensible · unfathomable · dizzying · astronomical · infinite · endless
intimidating
Inspiring fear or unease
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- insurmountableImpossible to overcome
ambitious · monumental · arduous · steep · uphill · demanding · rigorous · grueling · strenuous · taxing
frightening
Inspiring terror or alarm
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- scaryCausing fright
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
nerve-wracking · alarming · forbidding · menacing · ominous · chilling · paralyzing · petrifying · hair-raising · blood-curdling
disheartening
Causing loss of hope
- dispiritingCausing loss of enthusiasm
- deflatingReleasing contained gas
- demoralizingDestroying confidence or hope
discouraging · off-putting · deterring · dismaying · sobering · humbling · crushing · defeating · overwhelming · hopeless
vast
Extremely great in size
staggering · mind-boggling · bewildering · incomprehensible · unfathomable · dizzying · astronomical · infinite · endless · boundless
- difficultyeasy, hard, medium, difficult, moderate
- fearfear, dread, afraid, fright, frightened
- menacingthreatening, intimidating, menacing, ominous, sinister
- challengeschallenge, difficult, hard, challenging, tough
- overwhelmingoverwhelming, overpowering, crushing, engulfing, smothering
- dispiritingdemoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting, deflating
dauntingeasy
Requiring minimal effort
simple · manageable · doable · effortless · straightforward
dauntingencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
reassuring · heartening · emboldening · inspiring · comforting
dauntingapproachable
Easy to engage with
inviting · accessible · welcoming · user-friendly · friendly