kind of daunting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of daunting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that feels intimidating or overwhelming in a somewhat informal context. Example: "Starting a new job can be kind of daunting, especially when you have to learn so many new things at once."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It's kind of daunting.

The New Yorker

But the thought of training on my own again for four years was kind of daunting.

The New York Times

"That's kind of daunting".

The New Yorker

"There was nothing between us and Portugal, which was kind of daunting," he said.

The New York Times

"It's kind of daunting, thinking about what 2011 will be like for me and my life," Mr. Joseph said.

The New York Times

To be mentioned in this company is honor enough in itself, yet at the same time kind of daunting: this is the pinnacle of English art.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

So it was kind of a daunting challenge.

The New York Times

It's sort of daunting, in a way.

The New Yorker

The idea behind the curry-spiced lamb, served next to a pile of whole-wheat chapatis, seems to be to wrap the meat in a chapati, forming a kind of lamb taco a daunting endeavor, since the meat's still on the bone.

The New Yorker

So, that was kind of a little daunting, but weirdly I think--and this is where I'm such a big fan of the album as a piece of work--that a forty or forty-five minutexperiencece is so great for the human brain.

Huffington Post

"When you move into any new place, it's initially a kind of undifferentiated expanse, or daunting chaos of possibilities, and this project has turned Hartford into a specific array of opportunities so students know what they are and know how to get to them," Dr. Lloyd said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of daunting" to express a mild sense of being overwhelmed or intimidated, especially when you want to soften the impact of the statement. It's suitable for informal and semi-formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "kind of daunting" excessively in your writing, as overuse of "kind of" can make your writing sound less confident and more hesitant. Instead, try to use more precise language when possible to convey your meaning more directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of daunting" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that is perceived as somewhat intimidating or overwhelming. Ludwig provides examples where it describes tasks or prospects.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kind of daunting" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase that expresses a mild sense of intimidation or being overwhelmed. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media contexts and is considered appropriate for neutral to informal registers. While effective in softening the impact of a statement, it's essential to avoid overuse and consider more precise language for formal situations. Understanding its nuances, as reinforced by Ludwig, will help writers use it effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly intimidating

Synonymous; very similar meaning but uses "slightly" instead of "kind of".

a little overwhelming

Synonymous; very similar meaning but uses "a little" instead of "kind of".

mildly intimidating

Synonymous; very similar meaning but uses "mildly" instead of "kind of".

a touch overwhelming

Synonymous; very similar meaning but uses "a touch" instead of "kind of".

somewhat intimidating

Focuses more directly on the feeling of intimidation, removing the hedging "kind of".

slightly overwhelming

Emphasizes the feeling of being overwhelmed with a slightly subdued tone.

a bit overwhelming

Emphasizes the feeling of being overwhelmed rather than intimidated, similar level of intensity.

rather intimidating

Substitutes "kind of" with "rather", indicating a similar level of intensity.

somewhat challenging

Substitutes the feeling of being "daunting" with a more positive, but still cautious, sentiment of something being challenging.

a bit scary

Replaces "daunting" with "scary", focusing on fear aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of daunting" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of daunting" to describe a task, situation, or prospect that feels somewhat intimidating or overwhelming. For example, "Learning a new language can be "kind of daunting" at first."

What are some alternatives to saying "kind of daunting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "somewhat intimidating", "a bit overwhelming", or "slightly challenging".

Is "kind of daunting" formal or informal?

"Kind of daunting" is generally considered informal. In more formal contexts, you might opt for phrases like "somewhat intimidating" or "rather challenging".

What's the difference between "kind of daunting" and "very daunting"?

"Kind of daunting" suggests a mild or moderate level of being overwhelmed or intimidated, while "very daunting" implies a much stronger feeling. "Very daunting" suggests a more significant challenge than "kind of daunting".