that sounds daunting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that sounds daunting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something appears to be intimidating or overwhelming. Example: "The amount of work we have to complete before the deadline? That sounds daunting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

There is also the problem of acquainting consumers with a technology that sounds daunting.

The New York Times

While that sounds daunting at first blush, consider that Society for Human Resource Management estimates that the replacement costs for an individual employee run from 50 to 200percentt of the employee's annual salary.

Huffington Post

It's a combination of on-foot and aerial combat that sounds daunting, but is quite easy to play.

TechCrunch

If that sounds daunting, albeit exciting, Ms. Antonelli found it only slightly less difficult to ransack her West Village apartment to select a single favorite object.

The New York Times - Style

While that sounds daunting enough, Verklin also has to manage increased scrutiny over ad targeting from federal and local officials, growing competition from tech companies and relationships with the ad industry at large.

Forbes

If that sounds daunting, it is.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

If all this sounds daunting, applicants should know that nearly every application -- whether to Wesleyan or to many Ivy League schools -- is scrutinized by at least two members of the admissions staff, and sometimes the whole committee, which often agonizes over their impossible choices.

The New York Times

But if all this sounds daunting, believe the reassuring sign at the base — "Don't panic!..

The New York Times - Travel

Not that Aravane sounds daunted.

The New York Times

If the climb sounds daunting, there's an easier way.

The New York Times - Travel

For the people who fill the bus each morning, the prospect sounds daunting.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "sounds" with more concrete sensory verbs such as "looks", "feels" or "seems", when appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "that sounds daunting" as a standalone statement without providing further context or offering potential solutions. This can create a pessimistic tone without contributing constructively to the conversation.

Linguistic Context

That sounds daunting functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a subjective assessment of a situation or task. It indicates that something seems difficult, intimidating, or overwhelming to the speaker, aligning with Ludwig's assessment. This evaluation is based on sensory perception (sound) combined with an emotional judgment (daunting).

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that sounds daunting" is a commonly used phrase to express that something appears intimidating or overwhelming. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and frequently found in news articles, wikis, and business communications. When using this phrase, ensure to provide context or offer solutions to avoid creating a pessimistic tone. Consider alternatives like "that seems intimidating" or "that appears overwhelming" to vary your expression. Understanding these nuances helps enhance your writing and communication skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seems intimidating

Replaces "sounds" with "seems" and "daunting" with "intimidating", focusing on the perception of being frightening.

that is quite intimidating

Adds "quite" for emphasis while using "intimidating", highlighting the degree of fear or respect induced.

that appears overwhelming

Substitutes "sounds" with "appears" and "daunting" with "overwhelming", emphasizing the feeling of being too much to handle.

that feels challenging

Replaces "sounds" with "feels" and "daunting" with "challenging", highlighting the aspect of requiring significant effort.

that is rather overwhelming

Uses "rather" to soften the impact of "overwhelming", suggesting a moderate level of being too much to handle.

that looks difficult

Changes "sounds" to "looks" and "daunting" to "difficult", focusing on the visual impression of being hard to do.

that seems formidable

Uses "formidable" instead of "daunting", suggesting something inspires respect or fear due to its size or capabilities.

that strikes me as difficult

Introduces a personal perspective ("strikes me") and uses "difficult", making the assessment subjective.

that presents difficulties

Shifts from a sensory description to a more formal statement about the presence of challenges.

that poses a challenge

Emphasizes the challenge aspect, indicating something that requires effort and skill to overcome.

FAQs

What does "that sounds daunting" mean?

The phrase "that sounds daunting" means something appears intimidating, overwhelming, or challenging. It suggests that a task or situation seems difficult and may cause apprehension.

How can I use "that sounds daunting" in a sentence?

You can use "that sounds daunting" to express concern or apprehension about something. For example, "The amount of work required for this project? "That sounds daunting"".

What can I say instead of "that sounds daunting"?

You can use alternatives like "that seems intimidating", "that appears overwhelming", or "that feels challenging" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "that sounds daunting" a negative expression?

Yes, "that sounds daunting" typically carries a negative connotation, implying something is difficult or intimidating. However, it can also be a starting point for problem-solving or expressing a need for support.