If you describe something or someone as formidable, you mean that you feel slightly frightened by them because they are very great or impressive.
We have a formidable task ahead of us.
Marsalis has a formidable reputation in both jazz and classical music.
She looked every bit as formidable as her mother.
Synonyms: impressive, great [informal], powerful, tremendous More Synonyms of formidable
formidablyadverb [ADVERB adjective]
Sofia was attractive and formidably intelligent.
More Synonyms of formidable
formidable in British English
(ˈfɔːmɪdəbəl)
adjective
1.
arousing or likely to inspire fear or dread
2.
extremely difficult to defeat, overcome, manage, etc
a formidable problem
3.
tending to inspire awe or admiration because of great size, strength, excellence, etc
Derived forms
formidability (ˌformidaˈbility) or formidableness (ˈformidableness)
noun
formidably (ˈformidably)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin formīdābilis, from formīdāre to dread, from formīdō fear
formidable in American English
(ˈfɔrmədəbəl; fɔrˈmɪdəbəl)
adjective
1.
causing fear or dread
2.
hard to handle or overcome
3.
awe-inspiring in size, excellence, etc.; strikingly impressive
Derived forms
formidability (ˌformidaˈbility)
noun or ˈformidableness
formidably (ˈformidably)
adverb
Word origin
ME < OFr < L formidabilis < formidare, to fear, dread < formido, fear < IE *mormo-, to feel horror > Gr mormoros, fear
Examples of 'formidable' in a sentence
formidable
You need strong nerves to take on this formidable task.
The Sun (2016)
To write a world history is a formidable task.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
England were a formidable force during this period.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His party is putting its formidable machine to work.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There he gained a formidable reputation as a tenacious worker on conservation and countryside issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He carries with him a formidable array of weaponry.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was his misfortune to face such a formidable opponent.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Best days might be behind him but he is still a formidable attacking force.
The Sun (2010)
Couple that with his astonishing powers of concentration and you have a formidable opponent.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But it may well make the winner a more formidable opponent in the election itself.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Nowhere is this task more formidable than in the case of consumer packaged goods.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The Canadian heavy metal fan has a formidable reputation.
The Sun (2012)
She was formidable, a force to be reckoned with.
The Sun (2012)
Despite this formidable reputation, it has lurked largely in the shadows in this country.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A formidable array of investors and established tech giants is piling into the nascent online education sector.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I reckon he was able to weather the storm thanks to the unwavering support of his formidable mother.
The Sun (2011)
The banks remain formidable money-making machines.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She now represents a highly mobile and formidable potential strike force, one of the most flexible fighting ships in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The bride's formidable mother felt they had abandoned the wedding feast too early and summoned the newlyweds to return to the room.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Something awesome, they thought, and formidable.
Christianity Today (2000)
The Wales summit recognised that Nato was being outgunned by a formidable military machine.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He went on to build a formidable reputation before coming to Britain in the early 1980s to further his career.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
formidable
British English: formidable ADJECTIVE
Something or someone that is formidable makes you feel slightly frightened.
We have a formidable task ahead of us.
American English: formidable
Brazilian Portuguese: formidável
Chinese: 可怕的
European Spanish: formidable
French: redoutable
German: enorm
Italian: terribile
Japanese: 恐るべき
Korean: 만만찮은
European Portuguese: formidável
Latin American Spanish: formidable
All related terms of 'formidable'
formidable task
A task is an activity or piece of work which you have to do, usually as part of a larger project.
formidable challenge
A challenge is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination .
formidable obstacle
You can refer to anything that makes it difficult for you to do something as an obstacle .
formidable opponent
In a sporting contest , your opponent is the person who is playing against you.
formidable reputation
Something's or someone's reputation is the opinion that people have about how good they are. If they have a good reputation, people think they are good.
Chinese translation of 'formidable'
formidable
(ˈfɔːmɪdəbl)
adj
[task]艰(艱)巨(鉅)的 (jiānjù de)
[opponent]难(難)以对(對)付的 (nányǐ duìfu de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
frightening because very difficult to deal with or overcome
We have a formidable task ahead of us.
Synonyms
difficult
It is difficult to read the sign from here.
taxing
You won't be asked to do anything too taxing.
challenging
overwhelming
staggering
daunting
mammoth
colossal
arduous
The task was more arduous than he had calculated.
very great
onerous
parents who have had the onerous task of bringing up a difficult child
toilsome (literary)
Opposites
easy
2 (adjective)
Definition
extremely impressive
She looked every bit as formidable as her mother.
Synonyms
impressive
The film's special effects are particularly impressive.
great (informal)
It's a great film; you must see it.
powerful
a powerful drama about a corrupt city leader
tremendous
I felt a tremendous pressure on my chest.
mighty
a mighty young athlete
terrific
There was a terrific bang and a great cloud of smoke.
awesome
the awesome responsibility of sending troops into combat
invincible
indomitable
redoubtable
He is a redoubtable fighter.
puissant
3 (adjective)
a formidable, well-trained, well-equipped fighting force
Synonyms
intimidating
He was a huge, intimidating figure.
threatening
a threatening atmosphere of rising tension and stress
dangerous
terrifying
one of the most terrifying diseases known to man
appalling
They have been living under the most appalling conditions.
horrible
Still the horrible shrieking came out of his mouth.
dreadful
They told us the dreadful news.
menacing
His bushy eyebrows gave his face a menacing look.
dismaying
fearful (informal)
The earthquake was a fearful disaster.
daunting
Occasionally I find the prospect daunting.
frightful
We were trapped overnight in frightful conditions.
baleful
He had a baleful look.
shocking (informal)
I must have been in a shocking state last night.
Opposites
encouraging
,
comforting
,
cheering
,
pleasant
,
reassuring
,
heartening
,
genial
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appalling
Definition
causing dismay, horror, or revulsion
They have been living under the most appalling conditions.
Synonyms
horrifying,
shocking (informal),
terrible,
alarming,
frightening,
scaring,
awful,
terrifying,
horrible,
grim,
dreadful,
intimidating,
dismaying,
horrific,
fearful (informal),
daunting,
dire,
astounding,
ghastly,
hideous,
shameful,
harrowing,
vile,
unnerving,
petrifying,
horrid,
unspeakable,
frightful,
nightmarish,
abominable,
disheartening,
godawful (slang),
hellacious (US, slang),
from hell (informal)
in the sense of arduous
Definition
difficult to accomplish
The task was more arduous than he had calculated.
Synonyms
difficult,
trying,
hard,
tough,
tiring,
severe,
painful,
exhausting,
punishing,
harsh,
taxing,
heavy,
steep,
formidable,
fatiguing,
rigorous,
troublesome,
gruelling,
strenuous,
onerous,
laborious,
burdensome,
backbreaking,
toilsome (literary)
in the sense of awesome
Definition
inspiring or displaying awe
the awesome responsibility of sending troops into combat