daunting (adjective)

1. The daunting presence of the alien spaceship sent shivers down the spines of the human crew.

2. The villain's daunting appearance and menacing laughter made the comic book superheroes quake in their boots.

3. The timid new student found the school bully's intimidating glare to be daunting, but it turned out the bully just wanted to borrow a pencil.

4. The preacher's fire-and-brimstone sermon was filled with daunting warnings of eternal damnation for sinners.