daunting
UK: ˈdɔːntɪŋ | US: ˈdɔːntɪŋ
adj. intimidating or discouraging through perceived difficulty or fear
adj. overwhelming in a way that causes hesitation or apprehension
The word "daunting" originates from the Old French verb danter (later donter), meaning "to tame" or "subdue," which itself derives from the Latin domitare, a frequentative form of domare ("to tame"). Over time, the sense evolved from physical taming to metaphorical intimidation, reflecting how a challenging task can "subdue" one's confidence. The suffix -ing turns the verb into an adjective, emphasizing the ongoing or inherent quality of being discouraging.
The sheer scale of the project was daunting for the new team.
She found public speaking daunting at first but grew more confident with practice.
Climbing the mountain seemed like a daunting task, but they were determined to try.
The interview panel’s stern expressions made the experience even more daunting.
Despite the daunting odds, he refused to give up.