formidable
Americanadjective
-
causing fear, apprehension, or dread.
a formidable opponent.
- Antonyms:
- pleasant
-
of discouraging or awesome strength, size, difficulty, etc.; intimidating.
a formidable problem.
-
arousing feelings of awe or admiration because of grandeur, strength, etc.
-
of great strength; forceful; powerful.
formidable opposition to the proposal.
adjective
-
arousing or likely to inspire fear or dread
-
extremely difficult to defeat, overcome, manage, etc
a formidable problem
-
tending to inspire awe or admiration because of great size, strength, excellence, etc
Other Word Forms
- formidability noun
- formidableness noun
- formidably adverb
- nonformidability noun
- nonformidable adjective
- nonformidableness noun
- nonformidably adverb
- quasi-formidable adjective
- quasi-formidably adverb
- superformidable adjective
- superformidableness noun
- superformidably adverb
- unformidable adjective
- unformidableness noun
- unformidably adverb
Etymology
Origin of formidable
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from French, from Latin formīdābilis “causing fear,” from formīd(āre) “to fear” + -ābilis -able
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.
Experts say the formidable technical hurdles facing such Iranian ambitions give the two sides time to discuss a potential agreement to curb Tehran’s missile development.
While Russia’s economy and military face major obstacles, it is still a formidable foe, especially given the weight of China’s economy and military behind it.
She looked straight at Duane, as still and solid as an iceberg, and he could feel her formidable strength within the question she asked next.
From Literature
But physically getting to a specialist or a well-equipped clinic can be difficult for many patients, thanks to its size, its formidable geography of ice, fjords and mountains and the remoteness of small settlements.
A formidable finale to their tournament, but at least they're alive and not without hope of achieving something tangible.
From BBC
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.
