a very formidable

USAGE SUMMARY

"a very formidable" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It is usually used to describe something that is impressively large, difficult, or powerful. For example: "Their legal team consists of a very formidable group of attorneys with expertise in all areas of the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"She is a very formidable political figure".

The New Yorker

"Beneteau is a very formidable competitor," he said.

The New York Times

But she's a very formidable person, strong and effective".

The Guardian

"It would have been a very formidable animal".

The Guardian

But the celebrity entrepreneur said, "We will be a very formidable player".

The New York Times

Jack, too, fought in Spain and subsequently married Evelyn, who was a very formidable socialist herself.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Wainstein said Brennan would make a "very formidable director of the CIA".

The Guardian

"Well, he's a slippery operator and I'm sure a very formidable opponent," she says gravely.

The Guardian

Dick Codey can, based on those powers, become a very formidable candidate in his own right".

The New York Times

"Hotels are now focused on this as a very formidable market," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's concerning to people, because with the Yankees' resources and first-rate baseball thinking -- like the Red Sox and a couple of other teams -- it's becoming a very, very formidable challenge".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a very formidable" to describe entities that command respect or are difficult to overcome, ensuring the context aligns with the implication of strength or challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "a very formidable" in situations where simpler adjectives like "strong" or "impressive" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily inflated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very formidable" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It serves to attribute a high degree of impressiveness, power, or difficulty to the entity being described, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a very formidable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjectival phrase. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys a sense of impressive strength, power, or challenge. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral to professional register. When writing, it's best used to accurately depict entities possessing significant power or presenting considerable challenges, avoiding overuse in simpler contexts to maintain impact. Alternatives such as "an extremely powerful" or "a truly impressive" can offer nuanced expressions of similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an extremely powerful

Replaces "formidable" with "powerful" and "very" with "extremely", emphasizing raw strength.

a truly impressive

Shifts focus to the quality of being impressive rather than threatening.

an exceptionally strong

Substitutes "formidable" with "strong" and "very" with "exceptionally", highlighting resilience and might.

a remarkably capable

Emphasizes competence and ability rather than intimidating power.

a significantly challenging

Focuses on the difficulty or challenge presented rather than the inherent power.

a considerably daunting

Highlights the intimidating or discouraging aspect of the subject.

a genuinely fearsome

Replaces "formidable" with "fearsome" stressing the element of fear or dread.

a strikingly dominant

Focuses on the characteristic of being dominant or overpowering.

an overwhelmingly powerful

Emphasizes the intense and irresistible force or impact.

a commanding presence

Highlights the impressive and authoritative demeanor of someone or something.

FAQs

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

Use "a very formidable" to describe something or someone impressively powerful, challenging, or difficult to overcome. For example: "She is "a very formidable political" figure."

What are some alternatives to "a very formidable"?

You can use alternatives such as "an extremely powerful", "a truly impressive", or "an exceptionally strong depending on the context".

When is it appropriate to use "a very formidable"?

It is suitable when you want to emphasize that something or someone possesses significant strength, power, or presents a considerable challenge. Reserve it for contexts where the intensity warrants such strong language.

What is the difference between "a very formidable" and "a very challenging"?

"A very formidable" emphasizes the inherent strength or power, while "a very challenging" focuses on the difficulty or obstacles presented. The former suggests inherent power, while the latter highlights the test or struggle involved.