daunting problem

[/ˈdɔːntɪŋ ˈprɒbləm/]
noun phrasepl: daunting problems / problemas desafiadores
problema desafiador; problema intimidador
1. A difficult or complex issue that seems overwhelming or discouraging to face or solve
Climate change is a daunting problem that requires global cooperation.
A mudança climática é um problema desafiador que requer cooperação global.
2. A challenge that appears formidable and may cause hesitation or anxiety in addressing it
Finding a cure for the disease presented a daunting problem for researchers.
Encontrar uma cura para a doença apresentava um problema intimidador para os pesquisadores.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'daunting problem' is commonly used in professional, academic, and journalistic discourse to describe serious challenges. Brazilians may use 'desafiador' (challenging) more frequently in optimistic contexts, while 'intimidador' emphasizes the fear factor. In the USA, this phrase is prevalent in business presentations and policy discussions when describing systemic or large-scale issues.
NYC Slang
tough nut to crack; beast of a problem
Synonyms / Sinônimos
challenging problemdifficult problemformidable challengeoverwhelming issuetough challenge
Antonyms / Antônimos
simple problemeasy taskminor issuetrivial matter

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
problema desafiador / problema intimidador
Most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
problema complicado / problema difícil
Business and formal contexts often prefer 'desafiador'
Rio de Janeiro
problema pesado / problema difícil de resolver
Colloquial usage may employ 'pesado' for emphasis
Portugal
problema desafiante / problema intimidador
Portuguese variant uses 'desafiante' as alternative to 'desafiador'

Related Words

challengeobstacledifficultyadversitycomplexity

Related Idioms & Phrases

a mountain to climb
a tall order
an uphill battle
bite off more than you can chew
face the music
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →