formidable

(fôrˈmĭ-də-bəl, fôr-mĭdˈə-)

adjective

1. Arousing fear, dread, or alarm: the formidable prospect of major surgery.
2. Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder: “Though a true hero, he was also a thoroughgoing bureaucrat and politician, a formidable combination” (Mario Puzo).
3. Difficult to undertake, surmount, or defeat: a formidable challenge; a formidable opponent.

Related Forms:

• forˌmi·da·bilˈi·ty, forˈmi·da·ble·ness noun

• forˈmi·da·bly adverb

Usage Note: Traditionally formidable has been pronounced with stress on the first syllable, but recently the pronunciation with stress on the second syllable, which is a common variant in British English, appears to be on the rise in American English. The traditional pronunciation is apparently still preferred by a large majority of educated speakers, however. A recent survey shows that 80 percent of the Usage Panel use the pronunciation (fôrˈmĭ-də-bəl), while 14 percent use (fôr-mĭdˈə-bəl). A few Panelists approved both pronunciations.