redoubtable

American  

[ri-dou-tuh-buhl] / rɪˈdaʊ tə bəl /

adjective

1. that is to be feared; formidable.

2. commanding or evoking respect, reverence, or the like.

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redoubtable British  

/ rɪˈdaʊtəbəl /

adjective

1. to be feared; formidable

2. worthy of respect

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Other Word Forms

• redoubtableness
  noun
• redoubtably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of redoubtable

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English redoutable, from Middle French, equivalent to redout(er) “to fear” ( re- re- + douter “to fear, doubt” ) + -able “be capable of”; see doubt, -able

Explanation

Redoubtable means honorable, maybe even intimidatingly so. If your grandmother worked tirelessly to raise four kids on her own and started her own taxi cab business and to this day, keeps all of her cabbies in line, she is without a doubt redoubtable. The adjective redoubtable traces back to the French word redute, meaning "to dread," a combination of the prefix re-, which adds emphasis, and duter, which means "to doubt." But it isn't the redoubtable person that you doubt — it's yourself or your ability to compete against or be compared to him or her. That's where the dread comes in. But you can learn a lot from and be inspired by redoubtable people, if you can just get over being afraid of them.

Example Sentences

Berenice Bejo, the lead actress from "The Artist" who co-stars in "Redoubtable", amused by the argument, tried to calm tempers:

From Reuters • May 21, 2017

The word was Redoubtable was due to slot in to the statement-making opening gala position; in past years an announcement would have been made by now, which suggests there’s been some backstage shenanigans.

From The Guardian • Apr. 12, 2017

Redoubtable After the meteoric success of his 2011 The Artist, which used a competition slot as a springboard for major Oscar impact, Michel Hazanavicius was swiftly anointed as the new roi of French cinema.

From The Guardian • Apr. 12, 2017

He's been described as acting with great gallantry encouraging his men to fight off those trying to board from the French ship Redoubtable.

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2015

Meanwhile, the Victory kept hammering with her starboard guns at the Redoubtable until her lower deck cannon were put out of action.

From Drake, Nelson and Napoleon by Runciman, Walter