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formidable definition

for·mi·dable (fôr′mə də bəl, fôr mid′ə bəl)

adjective

  1. causing fear or dread
  2. hard to handle or overcome
  3. awe-inspiring in size, excellence, etc.; strikingly impressive

Etymology: ME < OFr < L formidabilis < formidare, to fear, dread < formido, fear < IE *mormo-, to feel horror > Gr mormoros, fear

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

formidable Synonyms

formidable

modif.

  1. Inspiring fear or apprehension

    fearful, forbidding, intimidating, impregnable; see dangerous 1, 2, terrible 1.

  2. Hard to deal with or overcome

    challenging, arduous, onerous, overwhelming; see difficult 1.

  3. Inspiring awe or admiration

    impressive, imposing, awesome, redoubtable; see grand 2, impressive 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

formidable Usage Examples

Preposition: as

  • step: Locate the mildly sloping path and, if you have unlimited time, the ascent is only as formidable as the next step.

Modifying Another Word

  • truly: The card itself comes with a breakout box that plugs into the card through a truly formidable cable.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: The addition of Paul Berry to the batting order makes the line up formidable.

Modifies a noun

  • foe: No, I just afford them the degree of respect they deserve, they're a formidable foe.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Nothing seems more formidable to me than trying to climb over a Bible verse.
formidable usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

formidable quotes

The enormityofthetask†[was] just a bit lessformidable than that described in the first chapter of Genesis.

-Acheson, Dean Gooderham

It is now apparent that this great, this powerful, this formidablekingdomisconsidered onlyas a province of a despicable electorate.

-Pitt,William, 1st Earl of Chatham known as  the Elder

Many things are formidable, and none more formidable than man.

-Sophocles

formidable quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"formidable." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/formidable>

APA Style

formidable. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/formidable

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