a formidable success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a formidable success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an achievement that is impressive or powerful in its impact or significance. Example: "The launch of the new product was a formidable success, exceeding all sales expectations in the first quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That is by any standard a formidable success: something to bear in mind whenever yet another book or essay pronounces as this one will not that the academy is "in crisis".Needless to say, no institution lasts nine centuries without adapting.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I think a very formidable success story is the Hawaiian language.

Huffington Post

* [Rating: One Star] Freemans A forlorn alley, a few walls of taxidermy and hot artichoke dip: these are the blocks with which Freemans built its formidable success, underscored by an expansion in early 2006 that increased the number of seats to 105 from about 60.

The New York Times

Ms. Swift continues to croon about boys with a charming despondency that plays at direct odds of the formidable success of "Red" (Big Machine), her Billboard chart-topping fourth studio album.

The New York Times - Arts

Lewis added: "The WRU further wishes to state its unequivocal support for Sam Warburton as a role model and exemplary captain who has led Wales to formidable success in the competition".

BBC

There the conditions for London 2012 will give all the Skandia GB sailors the optimum chance of building on their formidable success of the last three Olympic Games where, prior to today, they have won 15 medals, including eight gold.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr Thorpe is pointing to his many formidable successes as Liberal leader in the past 10 years.

The Guardian

All3Media chief executive Steve Morrison said Douglas's experience at Radio 2 and Universal Music made her the perfect person to build on Lime Pictures' formidable successes.

The Guardian

That kind of change is unnerving to Visa, despite its formidable successes.

Forbes

The feat gives South African cricket a signal moment to place alongside those achieved by the rugby and soccer players, golfers, boxers and Olympians of a nation with a formidable record of sporting success.

The New York Times - Sports

Immunologic tumour dormancy, observed in clinical post-transplantation patients1,2,3, is a formidable barrier for further success of immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitor blockade4, oncolytic virus5 and adoptive T-cell transfer6.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a formidable success", consider the context. It's best suited for describing achievements that not only meet expectations but also demonstrate a significant impact or overcome considerable obstacles. For less impactful events, alternatives like "a notable success" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "formidable" in contexts where a simple "great" or "significant" would suffice. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound unnecessarily grandiose. Reserve it for situations where the success truly stands out.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a formidable success" functions as a noun phrase, where "formidable" acts as a pre-modifying adjective, adding emphasis to the noun "success". According to Ludwig AI, this expression is valid and usable in the English language.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a formidable success" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes an achievement of considerable impact. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English writing. While not as common as simpler alternatives like "great success", "formidable" adds a layer of impressiveness and suggests overcoming significant obstacles. It's most frequently found in news media and scientific writing, making it suitable for neutral to slightly formal contexts. When using it, remember to consider the context and reserve it for achievements that truly stand out. If you're looking for alternatives, consider phrases like "resounding triumph" or "significant accomplishment".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a resounding triumph

Replaces "success" with "triumph" to emphasize the decisive and celebratory nature of the achievement.

a significant accomplishment

Substitutes "success" with "accomplishment" focusing on the completion of a notable task.

an outstanding achievement

Replaces "formidable success" with "outstanding achievement", highlighting the exceptional quality of the accomplishment.

a remarkable feat

Uses "feat" instead of "success" to emphasize the skill and effort involved in achieving something difficult.

a notable victory

Employs "victory" to suggest overcoming challenges or competition to achieve a favorable outcome.

an impressive win

Uses "win" to convey success in a competitive environment, emphasizing the achievement of a goal.

a major breakthrough

Highlights the innovative and transformative nature of the success, particularly in scientific or technological contexts.

a great achievement

This replaces "formidable success" with "great achievement", highlighting the importance and magnitude of the accomplishment.

a considerable achievement

This highlights the importance and magnitude of the accomplishment

a substantial success

Emphasizes the large scale or significant impact of the achievement

FAQs

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

You can use "a formidable success" to describe an achievement that is particularly impressive or significant, such as "The company's new marketing strategy was "a formidable success", leading to record sales".

What can I say instead of "a formidable success"?

You can use alternatives like "a resounding triumph", "an outstanding achievement", or "a significant accomplishment" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "a formidable success" or "an formidable success"?

"A formidable success" is correct. The article "a" is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, while "an" is used before vowel sounds.

What's the difference between "a formidable success" and "a great success"?

While both describe positive outcomes, ""a formidable success"" implies that the achievement was particularly impressive, perhaps due to overcoming significant challenges, whereas "a great success" is a more general term for a positive result.