formidable

[fawr-mi-duh-buhl, fawr-mid-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. causing fear, apprehension, or dread.

   a formidable opponent.

   Synonyms: horrible, frightful, fearful, menacing, threatening, appalling, dreadful
   Antonyms: pleasant

2. of discouraging or awesome strength, size, difficulty, etc.; intimidating.

   a formidable problem.

3. arousing feelings of awe or admiration because of grandeur, strength, etc.

4. of great strength; forceful; powerful.

   formidable opposition to the proposal.

formidable

/ ˈfɔːmɪdəbəl /

adjective

1. arousing or likely to inspire fear or dread

2. extremely difficult to defeat, overcome, manage, etc

   a formidable problem

3. tending to inspire awe or admiration because of great size, strength, excellence, etc

Other Word Forms

• formidableness noun
• formidability 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of formidable¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from French, from Latin formīdābilis “causing fear,” from formīd(āre) “to fear” + -ābilis -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of formidable¹

C15: from Latin formīdābilis , from formīdāre to dread, from formīdō fear

Example Sentences

For more than a decade as commander of Houthi forces, his playbook has been to keep challenging more formidable opponents with brazen missile attacks, gambling they have more to lose than he does.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"With enormous size, a powerful bite force and stereoscopic vision, T. rex was a formidable predator, but it did not reign uncontested. Darting alongside was Nanotyrannus -- a leaner, swifter and more agile hunter."

Read more on Science Daily

Burnley achieved promotion from the Championship last season on the back of a formidable defensive record, conceding just 16 goals in 46 games to highlight just how resolute they can be.

Read more on BBC

The Cupertino-based company has been trying to make its streaming business more financially sound, but faces a formidable task as it has been a big spender in attracting name talent to its programs and movies.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Melissa is not expected to make landfall in North America, but will still be a formidable extratropical cyclone when it nears St Johns, Newfoundland, in Canada on Friday night.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• awesome 
• dangerous 
• daunting 
• dire 
• dreadful 
• fierce 
• imposing 
• intimidating 
• menacing 
• terrific