redoubtable
Americanadjective
-
to be feared; formidable
-
worthy of respect
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing redoubtable
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Mythology
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This was radical stuff in 1776, when Abigail Adams, the redoubtable wife of John, the founding father and future president, was pleading with her husband to “remember the ladies.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
The traditions of Frederick’s own redoubtable army were grafted upon Washington’s when Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a former Prussian officer, volunteered his services in the Patriot cause.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026
Jackson’s way with words was always redoubtable, as was his comedic timing.
From Salon ● Feb. 22, 2026
One was Tim Moore, the redoubtable Republican speaker of the state House.
From New York Times ● Jul. 30, 2023
In October, the redoubtable Professor Matthews was called as our final witness.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
