daunting
Adjective
Easy difficulty
What does “daunting” mean?
adjective.seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in passages about challenges, personal growth, or overcoming obstacles. It emphasizes the feeling of intimidation and the psychological barriers that can accompany difficult tasks, distinguishing it from similar words like "challenging," which may not carry the same connotation of fear or anxiety.
Common Confusions
Daunting implies a sense of intimidation and anxiety about a task, while challenging usually suggests a difficult but manageable situation that can be approached with confidence.
Do not choose daunting if the context emphasizes ease or simplicity rather than seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating.
Example Sentences
-
Climbing Everest is a daunting challenge even for experts.