a formidable situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a formidable situation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a challenging or difficult circumstance that requires significant effort or skill to navigate. Example: "The team found themselves in a formidable situation when they were tasked with completing the project in just two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

HU was randomized against a combination that was highly suppressive, and this could be viewed as a formidable situation in which to verify increased efficacy.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This situation presents a formidable challenge for early diagnosis, optimal affordable treatment, and prevention and control.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

But he proved again last night that he is a formidable performer in these kind of situation.

Independent

But while the core story of "Gravity" is pure genre down to the workmanlike nature of chunks of its dialogue, it makes the most of that situation by having a formidable narrative drive, a plot smartly worked out to the smallest, most persuasive detail, and an intense, immersive score and sound design by composer Steven Price.

Los Angeles Times

In such a situation, the manufacturer can be a formidable competitive weapon if, incorporates into different departments decisions.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

The same uncertainty may be with reasonable justification applied to the cancer rate of the affected regions with their highly volatile socio-economic situation, making observation of cancer excess among liquidators a formidable task.

Dose-Response

Even in ideal situations, georeferencing a single locality can take minutes, making georeferencing a complete collection a formidable task, especially when investing the time to visually ensure accuracy.

Applications in Plant Sciences

"He's a formidable candidate".

The New York Times

That was a formidable problem.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"You are a formidable couple.

Independent

They made a formidable team.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation that presents a significant challenge or requires substantial effort to overcome, use "a formidable situation" to convey the gravity and scale of the problem.

Common error

Avoid using "a formidable situation" in contexts that are not genuinely challenging or significant; it can sound overly dramatic. Instead, opt for simpler alternatives like "a difficult situation" or "a tough spot" when the situation is less severe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a formidable situation" functions as a noun phrase, where "formidable" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "situation". According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, denoting a challenging or difficult circumstance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a formidable situation" is a noun phrase used to describe a challenging or difficult set of circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is most frequently found in science and news contexts, exhibiting a neutral to formal register. While synonymous with phrases like "a challenging predicament" or "a daunting scenario", it's important to avoid overusing it in casual contexts where simpler alternatives would suffice. The phrase is effective for conveying the gravity and scale of a problem, requiring significant effort or skill to navigate. One exact match was found among the sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant challenge

Emphasizes the challenging aspect of the situation, replacing "formidable situation" with "significant challenge".

a considerable difficulty

Replaces "situation" with "difficulty" and "formidable" with "considerable", maintaining a formal tone and highlighting the magnitude of the problem.

a difficult circumstance

Uses "difficult circumstance" instead of "formidable situation", maintaining a similar level of formality but with a more neutral tone.

a challenging predicament

Replaces "situation" with "predicament" and "formidable" with "challenging", softening the intensity slightly.

a daunting scenario

Substitutes "situation" with "scenario" and "formidable" with "daunting", emphasizing the intimidating aspect.

a tough spot

Replaces the formal "formidable situation" with the more colloquial "tough spot", reducing formality.

a precarious position

Substitutes "situation" with "position" and "formidable" with "precarious", highlighting the instability and risk involved.

an imposing state of affairs

Replaces "situation" with "state of affairs" and "formidable" with "imposing", increasing formality and emphasizing the grandeur of the challenge.

a critical juncture

Replaces "situation" with "juncture" and "formidable" with "critical", focusing on the importance and potential consequences of the moment.

a serious crisis

Conveys a sense of urgency and severity, replacing "formidable situation" with "serious crisis".

FAQs

How can I use "a formidable situation" in a sentence?

You can use "a formidable situation" to describe a challenging or difficult circumstance. For example: "The team found themselves in "a formidable situation" when they were tasked with completing the project in just two weeks."

What's a less formal way to describe "a formidable situation"?

If you want to sound less formal, you could use phrases like "a tough spot" or "a difficult situation".

What are some synonyms for "a formidable situation"?

Synonyms include "a challenging predicament", "a daunting scenario", or "a significant challenge".

Is it always appropriate to use "a formidable situation"?

While grammatically correct, "a formidable situation" is best reserved for scenarios that are genuinely challenging or imposing. Overusing it in everyday contexts can sound exaggerated. Consider the context and choose the most appropriate phrasing.