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

After missing significant time with arm injuries, Miami’s 2023 Wild Card Series starters, Braxton Garrett and Jesus Luzardo, returned to the team’s rotation in early May and have given Miami a formidable one-two punch. —Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 1 June 2024

In China, Pinduoduo has become a formidable rival to dominant JD.com and Alibaba. —Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 30 May 2024

But treating stigma as an individual psychological response discounts the formidable sociocultural and political bases that underlie bias, discrimination, and neglect. —Jacob D. Moses and Allan M. Brandt, STAT, 30 May 2024

Maya Hawke and Uma Thurman While Uma Thurman continues to dominate everywhere from the stage to the big screen, Maya Hawke, her daughter with Ethan Hawke, is proving to be a formidable talent in her own right, appearing in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and on Stranger Things. —Aja Hoggatt, EW.com, 29 May 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