formidable

USAGE SUMMARY

"formidable" is a correct and usable word in written English.
"Formidable" means that something is intimidating, impressive, and difficult to overcome. Example: I was faced with a formidable task of organizing my desk after months of clutter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the two understated Scots formed a formidable partnership as they persuaded George Osborne in early 2014 that the Treasury needed to harden its position, outlined in an analysis paper in April 2013, that a currency union was "highly unlikely".

The Guardian

His party had seen the need in the mid-1960s to set Heath, their own meritocrat, to catch Labour's formidable Wilson, and that confrontation dominated a decade of British parliamentary life.

The Guardian

He has insisted his team is capable of doing the job, but even former heads of the committee have acknowledged what a formidable task this is.

The Guardian

In a time of collapsing public confidence in the political classes across Europe, Orbán can claim to be unique – a gifted, popular strongman with the most formidable electoral mandate in the EU.

The Guardian

Walter pulled the strings to formidable effect; no fewer than four of the Germans' half dozen goals came from set pieces, and he coolly scored twice from the penalty spot.

The Guardian

François Hollande's lead over Nicolas Sarkozy is narrowing just two days before France's presidential elections, but the incumbent still has a formidable challenge to overhaul the deficit in time for Sunday's vote.

The Guardian

Always elegant, always formidable, but also capable of personal kindness to her staff and helpers, she understood Tory men.

The Guardian

The Hungarians played superb technical and tactical football, with Ferenc Puskas, a dominating captain with a formidable left foot, and Sander Kocsis, the so-called "Golden Head," a double spearhead.

The Guardian - Sport

Virgin and Delta have vowed to become a "formidable competitor" on UK-US routes after the American airline was cleared to complete its purchase of a 49% stake of Sir Richard Branson's Atlantic carrier.

The Guardian - Business

He would have been defeated in two states by a challenger who is potentially a far more formidable foe than Newt Gingrich.

The Guardian - Opinion

If Zoe does apply to university she will have some formidable competition: other applicants will have attended a school with an "outstanding" Ofsted rating, enjoyed a comfortable home life and have parents with degrees.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formidable" to describe something that inspires respect or awe due to its size, strength, or difficulty. Ensure the context aligns with the sense of something being substantial and potentially challenging to overcome.

Common error

Avoid using "formidable" to describe everyday tasks or minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations where the scale or challenge is genuinely significant to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "formidable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something as causing fear, awe, or discouragement due to its size, strength, or difficulty, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Formidable" is an adjective used to describe something that inspires respect or fear due to its size, strength, or difficulty. As evidenced by Ludwig, this word is frequently employed in news and media contexts to characterize challenges, opponents, or tasks. While semantically related to terms like "imposing" and "daunting", "formidable" carries a distinct sense of substantial challenge. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase follows standard grammatical rules, making it a correct and powerful choice for emphasizing the imposing nature of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imposing

Focuses more on the visual impression of size and grandeur.

daunting

Emphasizes the challenging and potentially discouraging nature of something.

intimidating

Highlights the quality of causing fear or apprehension.

redoubtable

Stresses the respect and perhaps fear inspired by someone or something.

impressive

A more general term indicating something evokes admiration.

powerful

Highlights strength and influence.

challenging

Focuses on the difficulty presented by something.

menacing

Implies a threat or potential danger.

commanding

Emphasizes authority and control.

striking

Highlights how something attracts attention through unusual or impressive qualities.

FAQs

How to use "formidable" in a sentence?

Use "formidable" to describe something that inspires respect or awe due to its size, strength, or difficulty. For example, "The task ahead seemed "daunting", a truly "formidable" undertaking".

What can I say instead of "formidable"?

You can use alternatives like "imposing", ""daunting"", or "intimidating" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "formidable challenge" or "formidably challenged"?

"Formidable challenge" is correct. "Formidably challenged" isn't standard usage; instead, describe the entity facing the challenge as in "They are "heavily challenged"".

What's the difference between "formidable" and "impressive"?

"Formidable" suggests something is difficult to overcome and inspires respect, while "impressive" indicates admiration or positive acknowledgement without necessarily implying difficulty.