formidable
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formidable
- /fɔːˈmɪdəbəl/ UK
- /fəˈmɪdəbəl/ UK
- /ˈfɔɹmɪdəbəl/ US
- /fɔɹˈmɪdəbəl/ US
Where it comes from
From Middle English formidable, from Old French formidable, formible, from Latin formīdābilis (“formidable, terrible”) (whence -able), from formīdō (“fear, dread”).
adjective more formidable · most formidable
-
Causing fear, dread, awe, or discouragement as a result of size, strength, or some other impressive feature; commanding respect; causing wonder or astonishment.
The latter part of the fifteenth century prepared a train of future events, that ended by raising France to a formidable power, which has ever since been, from time to time, the principal object of jealousy to the other European nations.
Similar: redoubtable
- Difficult to defeat or overcome. a formidable opponent
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: redoubtable, alarming, impressive, unnerving, awesome, severe, terrific, daunting, fierce, fearsome, stern, terrifying, frightening, challenging, scary, harsh
Translations
Every language
adj causing fear, dread, awe or admiration as a result of size, strength, or some other impressive quality
| Español | formidable |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 怖ろしい osoroshii, 怖ろしく強い osoroshikutsuyoi |
| 中文 | 可畏 kěwèi, 令人生畏的 lìngrénshēngwèide |
| Português | formidável |
| Deutsch | respekteinflößend, furchteinflößend, furchterregend, gewaltig, beachtlich, formidabel |
| Ελληνικά | υπέροχος ypérochos, τρομερός tromerós, δεινός deinós, αμόρφωτος amórfotos |
| Română | formidabil, groaznic |
| Русский | гро́зный gróznyj, устраша́ющий ustrašájuščij, внуши́тельный vnušítelʹnyj, чудо́вищный čudóviščnyj |
adj difficult to defeat or overcome
| Español | formidable |
|---|---|
| Français | redoutable |
| Русский | труднопреодоли́мый trudnopreodolímyj, трудноразреши́мый trudnorazrešímyj |
Talk about this word "formidable." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/formidable. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. formidable. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/formidable "formidable." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/formidable.Cite this
@misc{formidable_2026,
title = {formidable},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/formidable},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
