formidable

for·mi·da·ble

adjective \ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl; fȯr-ˈmi-, fər-ˈmi-\

Definition of FORMIDABLE

1

: causing fear, dread, or apprehension <a formidable prospect>

2

: having qualities that discourage approach or attack

3

: tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive

— for·mi·da·bil·i·ty \ˌfȯr-mə-də-ˈbi-lə-tē; fȯr-ˌmi-, fər-ˌ\ noun

— for·mi·da·ble·ness \ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl-nəs; fȯr-ˈmi-, fər-ˈ\ noun

— for·mi·da·bly \-blē\ adverb

Examples of FORMIDABLE

1. The mountains were a formidable barrier.
2. He has mastered a formidable amount of material.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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

Origin of FORMIDABLE

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to FORMIDABLE

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding

Related Words

daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms

calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening