formidable

[ fawr-mi-duh-buhl ]
/ 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 of formidable

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

SYNONYMS FOR formidable

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

ANTONYMS FOR formidable

1 pleasant.

OTHER WORDS FROM formidable

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH formidable

formative formidable

Words nearby formidable

formicarium, formicary, formicate, formication, formicivorous, formidable, formiminoglutamic acid, formless, formol, formosa, formosus

Example sentences from the Web for formidability

British Dictionary definitions for formidability

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 of formidable

formidability or formidableness, noun formidably, adverb

Word Origin for formidable

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