formidable

[fawr-mi-duh-buh l] /ˈfɔr mɪ də bəl/

adjective

causing fear, apprehension, or dread:

a formidable opponent.

of discouraging or awesome strength, size, difficulty, etc.; intimidating:

a formidable problem.

arousing feelings of awe or admiration because of grandeur, strength, etc.

of great strength; forceful; powerful:

formidable opposition to the proposal.

Origin

1400-50; late Middle English < French < Latin formīdābilis causing fear, equivalent to formīd- (stem of formīdāre to fear) + -ābilis -able

Related forms

formidableness, formidability, noun

formidably, adverb

nonformidability, noun

nonformidable, adjective

nonformidableness, noun

nonformidably, adverb

quasi-formidable, adjective

quasi-formidably, adverb

superformidable, adjective

superformidableness, noun

superformidably, adverb

unformidable, adjective

unformidableness, noun

unformidably, adverb

Can be confused

formative, formidable.

Synonyms

1. dreadful, appalling, threatening, menacing, fearful, frightful, horrible.

Antonyms

1. pleasant.

Examples from the web for formidable

But getting from interest to a viable formula is proving a formidable challenge.
By the way, these kittens may be cute, but the adult felines are actually quite formidable.
The difficulties which seemed so formidable have mysteriously vanished.
The resulting shift of precipitation patterns makes for a formidable weather weapon.
Instead of being tamed through scientific description, though, the giant squid seemed more formidable than ever.
At night, the dogs are tied into position to form a living fence around our tents and sleds, a formidable warning system.
But global graying offers an even more formidable challenge to less wealthy countries.
Most people may dismiss their fantastic feats-and their formidable foes-as mere fantasy.
By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators.
It's the cerebrum that makes the human brain-and therefore humans-so formidable.

British Dictionary definitions for formidable

formidable

/ˈfɔːmɪdəbəl/

adjective

arousing or likely to inspire fear or dread

extremely difficult to defeat, overcome, manage, etc: a formidable problem

tending to inspire awe or admiration because of great size, strength, excellence, etc

Derived Forms

formidability, formidableness, noun
formidably, adverb

Word Origin

C15: from Latin formīdābilis, from formīdāre to dread, from formīdō fear

Word Origin and History for formidable

adj.

mid-15c., from Middle French formidable (15c.), from Latin formidabilis "causing fear, terrible," from formidare "to fear," from formido "fearfulness, fear, terror, dread." Related: Formidably.