truly formidable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "truly formidable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the impressive or intimidating nature of something or someone. Example: "The team's performance in the championship was truly formidable, leaving their opponents in awe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

With Infinity, Skylanders faces its first truly formidable foe.

The New York Times - Arts

Not least because the opposition was truly formidable.

The Guardian - Sport

Under Dhoni's stewardship, India have become a truly formidable big-tournament side.

The Guardian - Sport

By any reasonable standard, this is the record of a truly formidable corporation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tame a Viking, so the Byzantines had realised, and he could serve as a truly formidable mercenary.

The Guardian - Arts

The research, by United States Geological Survey biologists, shows that the predator has a truly formidable ability to routinely cover extraordinary distances in the water.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

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Vice

Because no matter what anyone says, it truly takes a formidable woman to rock a flower-beard on her wedding day.

Vice

It might triumph temporarily, and it currently has, and when it does its truly hideous and astonishingly formidable, but ultimately it is always kicked back into whatever hole it came from.

Huffington Post

His current novel is swollen to truly Dickensian proportions - a formidable tome three inches thick whose frightening dimensions are slightly lessened by the fact that you can read it much as you scan your email messages, ignoring all the drivel.

The Guardian - Books

But the book I have been trying to find hasn't been written yet, a book that treats Anxiety for what it truly is - the most formidable nemesis, a thief of the highest caliber.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "truly formidable" to describe entities or phenomena that inspire respect or awe due to their inherent strength or capabilities. Be sure the context supports the intensity of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "truly formidable" in contexts that require a milder description. Overuse can dilute its impact. Reserve it for situations where the subject genuinely inspires significant respect or apprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "truly formidable" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier. It intensifies the adjective "formidable", enhancing its descriptive power. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and commonly used expression in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "truly formidable" is a commonly used and grammatically correct adjectival phrase that effectively emphasizes the exceptional strength, power, or challenging nature of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and widespread acceptance. While versatile, it's best reserved for contexts where the described entity genuinely inspires awe or respect, avoiding overuse in milder situations. Alternative expressions like "genuinely impressive" or "remarkably powerful" can offer nuanced variations depending on the intended emphasis. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a broad range of informative content, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely impressive

Replaces "formidable" with "impressive" while retaining the emphasis through "genuinely".

remarkably powerful

Substitutes "formidable" with "powerful" and uses "remarkably" to convey a high degree of strength.

exceptionally strong

Emphasizes strength using "exceptionally" instead of "truly" and "strong" instead of "formidable".

seriously daunting

Replaces "formidable" with "daunting" and uses "seriously" to maintain the intensity.

absolutely imposing

Uses "imposing" to convey a sense of dominance and "absolutely" for emphasis.

completely overwhelming

Shifts the focus to the effect on others, using "overwhelming" to suggest a powerful impact.

incredibly challenging

Highlights the difficulty posed, substituting "formidable" with "challenging".

utterly indomitable

Uses a more formal synonym, "indomitable", and emphasizes it with "utterly".

profoundly influential

Focuses on the impact and effect of something, replacing strength with influence.

extremely significant

Highlights the importance and weight of something, changing the aspect from strength to significance.

FAQs

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

Use "truly formidable" to describe something that is exceptionally powerful, impressive, or challenging. For example: "The opposing team presented a "truly formidable" challenge during the championship game".

What are some alternatives to saying "truly formidable"?

You can use alternatives such as "genuinely impressive", "remarkably powerful", or "exceptionally strong" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "very formidable" instead of "truly formidable"?

While "very formidable" is grammatically correct, ""truly formidable"" often conveys a stronger sense of authenticity and exceptionality. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.

What distinguishes ""truly formidable"" from simply "formidable"?

The addition of "truly" intensifies the adjective "formidable", emphasizing that the subject is not just impressive but exceptionally so. It suggests a greater degree of power or challenge.