formidable
adjectiveattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//fɔːˈmɪdəbəl//
- United Kingdom//fəˈmɪdəbəl//
- United States//ˈfɔɹmɪdəbəl//
Causing fear, dread, awe, or discouragement as a result of size, strength, or some other impressive feature; commanding respect; causing wonder or astonishment.
adjective
- 1
Causing fear, dread, awe, or discouragement as a result of size, strength, or some other impressive feature; commanding respect; causing wonder or astonishment.
The latter part of the fifteenth century prepared a train of future events, that ended by raising France to a formidable power, which has ever since been, from time to time, the principal object of jealousy to the other European nations.
[…] and I am more afraid of those people than I am of Anytus and his colleagues, although they are formidable enough.
- 2
Difficult to defeat or overcome.
a formidable opponent
[Ian] Holloway has unfinished business in the Premier League after relegation last year and he will make a swift return if he can overcome West Ham a week on Saturday. Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, will be acutely aware that when the stakes are high, Blackpool are simply formidable.
Etymology
From Middle English formidable, from Old French formidable, formible, from Latin formīdābilis (“formidable, terrible”) (whence -able), from formīdō (“fear, dread”).
Forms
- comparative
- more formidable
- superlative
- most formidable
formidable · Causing fear, dread, awe, or discouragement as a result of size, strength, or some other impressive feature; commanding respect; causing wonder or…
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