What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
daunting
Example
The thought of climbing Mount Everest is daunting. [daunting: adjective]
Example
The amount of work required to finish this project is daunting. [daunting: adjective]
terrifying
Example
The roller coaster ride was absolutely terrifying. [terrifying: adjective]
Example
The sound of the thunderstorm was so terrifying that I couldn't sleep. [terrifying: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Terrifying is less commonly used than daunting in everyday language. Terrifying is reserved for situations that are truly extreme and intense, while daunting can be used in a wider range of contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between daunting and terrifying?
Both daunting and terrifying are relatively formal words, but daunting can be used in more neutral or even positive contexts, while terrifying is almost always negative in connotation.
