formidable

adjective

for·​mi·​da·​ble ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl 

fȯr-ˈmi-,

fər-ˈmi- 

1

: causing fear, dread, or apprehension

a formidable prospect

2

: having qualities that discourage approach or attack

a formidable opponent

3

: tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive

a formidable accomplishment

formidability

ˌfȯr-mə-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

fȯr-ˌmi-

fər-ˌmi-

noun

formidableness

ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl-nəs 

fȯr-ˈmi-

fər-ˈmi-

noun

formidably

ˈfȯr-mə-də-blē 

fȯr-ˈmi-

fər-ˈmi-

adverb

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• frightening
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of formidable in a Sentence

She was known throughout Manchester as a formidable woman, and being educated had only piled more formidability on top of what she had been born with. —Edward P. Jones, The Known World, 2003

The technology was formidable: using two and a half million rivets, 300 steeplejacks working flat out would run it up in the space of two years … —Alistair Horne, Seven Ages of Paris, 2002

Alta is reached by a hairpin road that climbs steadily upward—a ride of thirty minutes or so, depending on road and weather conditions—through some of the most formidable mountain scenery in the country. —Cynthia Zarin, New Yorker, 23 Mar. 1992

The mountains were a formidable barrier.

He has mastered a formidable amount of material.

Recent Examples on the Web

That opponent was, of course, Donald Trump, who was still a formidable incumbent that fall after surviving an impeachment vote in the Senate and a bout with COVID, both in his reelection year. —Ron Elving, NPR, 7 Sep. 2024

Meanwhile, the formidable Australian filmmaker Peter Weir, who’s helmed cult classics such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, Dead Poets Society, and The Truman Show, took home the equivalent prize for directing. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024

It's been nearly a decade, and Tzuyu has come a long way from her beginnings, establishing herself as a formidable force with dance and vocal prowess. —Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2024

To have played even a small part in bringing Michael Connelly’s iconic characters to the screen, and watching the formidable Titus Welliver breathe life into Harry Bosch, will always be the highlight of my career. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin formidabilis, from formidare to fear, from formido terror, bogey; akin to Greek mormō bogey

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

formidable

adjective

for·​mi·​da·​ble ˈfȯr-məd-ə-bəl 

also

fȯr-ˈmid- 

1

: causing fear or dread

a formidable foe

2

: offering serious difficulties

the mountains were a formidable barrier

3

: very impressive

had won a formidable number of medals

formidableness noun

formidably

-blē 

adverb