Formidable
['fɔːmɪdəb(ə)l;fɔː'mɪd-] or ['fɔrmɪdəbl]
Definition
(adj.) inspiring fear; 'the formidable prospect of major surgery'; 'a tougher and more redoubtable adversary than the heel-clicking, jackbooted fanatic'- G.H.Johnston; 'something unnerving and prisonlike about high grey wall' .
(adj.) extremely impressive in strength or excellence; 'a formidable opponent'; 'the challenge was formidable'; 'had a formidable array of compositions to his credit'; 'the formidable army of brains at the Prime Minister's disposal' .
Checked by Joseph--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter, or undertaking; alarming.
Editor: Moll
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Fearful, dreadful, terrible, REDOUBTABLE, frightful, terrific, horrible, tremendous.
Editor: Vlad
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Awful, terrible, alarming, terrifying, discouraging, serious, appalling,fearful, dreadful, horrible, shocking
ANT:Despicable, weak, contemptible, light, trivial
Typist: Ted
Definition
adj. causing fear: adapted to excite fear.—ns. Formidabil′ity; For′midableness.—adv. For′midably.
Typist: Vilma
Examples
- I knew the garrison would make no formidable effort to relieve itself. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- I give you noticeYou will find me a formidable antagonist on that point. Jane Austen. Emma.
- Truly his bark was worse than his bite; but the really formidable attack was yet to come. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Within twenty-four hours I was in his sick-room, and was relieved to find that there was nothing formidable in his symptoms. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- Provisions for a company of soldiers sounds formidable. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- She was 156 feet long, 20 feet deep, and 56 feet broad, and was regarded as a very formidable vessel. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Because the last dynamiter they sent to work with us, although a formidable technician, was very nervous. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- A nation of hunters can never be formidable to the civilized nations in their neighbourhood; a nation of shepherds may. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- No, no, Hopkins, it is another and more formidable person for whom we must seek. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- See what a poor, pale, grim phantom I am--more pitiable than formidable. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- The Chinese war rocket was a long, heavy affair, fitted at the end with a barb-like arrow, and to a foe unacquainted with firearms, it must have seemed a formidable missile. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- A formidable river had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in the face of a small garrison under General Wade Hampton. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- The important Tuesday came that was to introduce the two young ladies to this formidable mother-in-law. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- His prim seat on horseback struck me altogether as too formidable. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- The creek, which was a formidable obstacle for either side to pass on our left, became a very slight obstacle on our right. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Caroline came to her relief with promptitude, showing a great deal more self-possession and courage than herself on the formidable topic now broached. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- But we have formidable aviation, the corporal said. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- The peace of Frankfort had left Germany Prussianized and united, the most formidable of all the Great Powers of Europe. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- We have a formidable aviation, the old man said happily. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- There is something formidable still, pale as you are, she said, as her eye fell under his. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Habituated to the palet?t and bonnet-grec, the neighbourhood of these garments seemed no longer uncomfortable or very formidable. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- But the mischief she might do, as a willing instrument in her husband's hands, was too formidable to be overlooked. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Yes; and every day and every night desires grow up many and formidable, and their demands are many. Plato. The Republic.
- By this time a formidable rival had entered t he field. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The boy drew his chubby face down to a formidable length, and commenced toning a psalm tune through his nose, with imperturbable gravity. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The latter are now considered as the most formidable and efficient class of destroyers. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- Nothing very formidable, as you see! Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- He was closer still, with a hand that grew formidable; and the frightened self in her was dragging the other down. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- The building is flat roofed, and a line of sand-bags over the outer walls rendered the top quite a formidable defence for infantry. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
Typist: Vilma