1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is a formidable undertaking
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formidable
Rip currents are formidable natural forces, but knowing how to react can significantly increase your chances of safely navigating these challenging waters.
—
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2025
Completing the formidable 12 are Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Cameron Young.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
While primarily utilized as a winger during his career, Dembélé often played down the middle for Luis Enrique’s side, spearheading a fluent and formidable front three, flanked by the dynamic Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
—David Close, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Two formidable artists, trumpeter Keyon Harrold and drummer Nate Smith, are getting a head start by kicking off their Coltrane tribute tour this fall.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2025
Completing the formidable 12 are Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Cameron Young.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
While primarily utilized as a winger during his career, Dembélé often played down the middle for Luis Enrique’s side, spearheading a fluent and formidable front three, flanked by the dynamic Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
—David Close, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Two formidable artists, trumpeter Keyon Harrold and drummer Nate Smith, are getting a head start by kicking off their Coltrane tribute tour this fall.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formidable
Adjective
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Last year, a woman in France shared hair-raising footage of her terrifying encounter with a spider.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
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The existentialist who sits at my desk feels we are each individually thrown into the deep end of existence and tasked with swimming, and that this is a terrifying and heavy task.—
Zadie Smith,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Abrego Garcia’s lawyers have argued that travel to Moshannon is far more difficult for members of the defense team based in Nashville, and not easier for those in New York.—
Christine Valora,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
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Senator Collins has proven in the past to be able to win in very difficult environments, 2008 being an example of that.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The sixth inning also featured a frightening moment when Cleveland’s David Fry, squaring around to bunt, took a 99 mph fastball from Skubal off his face, crumpling to the dirt as Skubal reacted with distress.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Visitors enter a space of torture featuring frightening medical tests and experiments.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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More than 3 million clinicians have trusted the tool for over three decades and are already using it to find best practices for challenging, complex medical cases.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Sometimes finding the comment section in the wee hours has been more challenging than the puzzle itself.—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Kimmel, who has spent most of his late-night career as a flippant but not particularly scandalous figure, acknowledged just how scary things had become that the White House might take aim at him.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
24 Sep. 2025
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Halloween, naturally scary, but also naturally really weird.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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An editor approached me with a tough assignment of tasting, evaluating and reviewing a chicken Caesar wrap.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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The news that Aleksander Barkov will all but assuredly miss all of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery on Friday to repair the ACL and MCL in right knee was tough for the Florida Panthers to hear.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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Rather, the wretched truth is a reminder that history’s wins are often, if not always, accompanied by terrible loss — that, sometimes, what was cast as victory may have actually been defeat.—
Andrea Williams,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Every tax article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.—
David McMillin,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
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The National Nuclear Security Administration funds the sensors, which undergo rigorous shock, vibration, thermal vacuum, and prompt X-ray testing to survive launch and the harsh space environment.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formidable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formidable. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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