Something that is daunting makes you feel slightly afraid or worried about dealing with it. They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house = intimidating + dauntingly daunt·ing·ly She is dauntingly articulate. frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident
If something daunts you, it makes you feel slightly afraid or worried about dealing with it. a gruelling journey that would have daunted a woman half her age + daunted daunt·ed It is hard to pick up such a book and not to feel a little daunted