formidable
AdjectiveUS[fawr-muh-duh-buhl]/ˈfɔrmədəbəl/4 syllablesalso [fawr-mid-uh-buhl] /ˌfɔrˈmɪdəbəl/
Open English WordNet
Adjective (2)
- extremely impressive in strength or excellence“a formidable opponent”“the challenge was formidable”“had a formidable array of compositions to his credit”“the formidable army of brains at the Prime Minister's disposal”Opposite unimpressiveSimilar impressive
- inspiring fear“the formidable prospect of major surgery”“a tougher and more redoubtable adversary than the heel-clicking, jackbooted fanatic — G.H.Johnston”“something unnerving and prisonlike about high grey wall”Synonyms: redoubtableunnervingOpposite unalarmingSimilar alarming
Word of the day · Oct 7About this word
convivialadjective
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
For′mi·da·ble adjective
Origin: L. formidabilis, fr. formidare to fear, dread: cf. F. formidable.
Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter, or undertaking; alarming.
They seemed to fear the formodable sight.— John Dryden
I swell my preface into a volume, and make it formidable, when you see so many pages behind.— Drydn.
Synonyms: Dreadful; fearful; terrible; frightful; shocking; horrible; terrific; tremendous.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54