Formidable — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl/ for·mi·da·ble

Meaning & Definition of Formidable

Formidable (adjective)

  1. causing fear, dread, or apprehension, very difficult to deal with
  2. having qualities that discourage approach or attack, very powerful or strong
  3. tending to inspire awe or wonder, impressive

Formidable (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing fear

    "a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children"

    similar: alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying
    related: daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving, bone-chilling, creepy, eerie, weird, appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish
    near: calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing, nonintimidating, nonthreatening

  2. requiring considerable physical or mental effort

    "running a marathon is a formidable undertaking"

    similar: arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, grueling, hard, heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rigorous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, tall, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill
    related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic, recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky, bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying, annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious, grievous, grim, strict, stringent, brutal, cruel, inhuman, painful
    opposite: cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding
    near: achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated, comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing, accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Formidable

The most common words with a similar meaning to Formidable:

alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying, arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, grueling, hard, heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Formidable

Words with the opposite meaning of Formidable:

cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding

Related Words for Formidable

daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving, bone-chilling, creepy, eerie, weird, appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, abstract, abstruse

Near Antonyms of Formidable

calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing, nonintimidating, nonthreatening, achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly

Word Forms of Formidable

Derived words: formidability (noun), formidableness (noun), formidably (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Formidable

Middle English, from Latin formidabilis, from formidare to fear, from formido terror, bogey; akin to Greek mormō bogey

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Formidable

What does "Formidable" mean?

"Formidable" means causing fear, dread, or apprehension, very difficult to deal with. As an adjective, it is defined as: causing fear, dread, or apprehension, very difficult to deal with. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Formidable"?

Other words for "Formidable" include alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome and forbidding. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Formidable" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Formidable"?

There are 121 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Formidable". Common alternatives include alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, frightening and frightful.

What is the opposite of "Formidable"?

Antonyms of "Formidable" include cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple and soft. Near antonyms include calming, comforting, consoling and inviting.

How do you use "Formidable" in a sentence?

Examples of "Formidable" in a sentence: "a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children"; "running a marathon is a formidable undertaking".

Is "Formidable" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Formidable" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Formidable"?

"Formidable" is pronounced /ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl/ and divided into syllables as for·mi·da·ble.

What is the origin of the word "Formidable"?

"Formidable" comes from Middle English, from Latin formidabilis, from formidare to fear, from formido terror, bogey; akin to Greek mormō bogey. First known use: 15th century.