formidable
adjective
for·mi·da·ble
ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl 
fȯr-ˈmi-də-bəl
fȯr-ˈmi-də-bəl
fər-ˈmi-də-bəl
1
: causing fear, dread, or apprehension : very difficult to deal with
a formidable challenge
The mountains were a formidable barrier.
2
: having qualities that discourage approach or attack : very powerful or strong
a formidable enemy/opponent/weapon
3
: tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive
a formidable accomplishment
formidability
noun
Examples of formidable in a Sentence
She was known throughout Manchester as a formidable woman, and being educated had only piled more formidability on top of what she had been born with.
—
Edward P. Jones, The Known World, 2003
The technology was formidable: using two and a half million rivets, 300 steeplejacks working flat out would run it up in the space of two years …
—Alistair Horne, Seven Ages of Paris, 2002
Alta is reached by a hairpin road that climbs steadily upward—a ride of thirty minutes or so, depending on road and weather conditions—through some of the most formidable mountain scenery in the country.
—Cynthia Zarin, New Yorker, 23 Mar. 1992
The mountains were a formidable barrier.
He has mastered a formidable amount of material.
Edward P. Jones, The Known World, 2003
The technology was formidable: using two and a half million rivets, 300 steeplejacks working flat out would run it up in the space of two years …
—Alistair Horne, Seven Ages of Paris, 2002
Alta is reached by a hairpin road that climbs steadily upward—a ride of thirty minutes or so, depending on road and weather conditions—through some of the most formidable mountain scenery in the country.
—Cynthia Zarin, New Yorker, 23 Mar. 1992
The mountains were a formidable barrier.
He has mastered a formidable amount of material.
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel destroyed roughly 70% of its massive arsenal of around 150,000 missiles in the last war, but the arsenal that remains is still formidable.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Over the past few years, Gulf Arab states had moved to significantly improve relations with Iran, but experts say the ferocity of Tehran’s attacks against them has given new life to the notion that the Islamic Republic remains their most formidable threat.
—Becky Anderson, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Michigan State, the only program ever to deny UConn at a Final Four, in 2009, have a Hall of Fame coach in Tom Izzo and come out of the formidable Big Ten.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Even as air raid sirens blared at least four times throughout this morning in central Israel, the country’s military insisted that its air defenses remain formidable and that the waves of Iranian missile attacks are growing less effective.
—Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formidable
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Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Over the past few years, Gulf Arab states had moved to significantly improve relations with Iran, but experts say the ferocity of Tehran’s attacks against them has given new life to the notion that the Islamic Republic remains their most formidable threat.
—Becky Anderson, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Michigan State, the only program ever to deny UConn at a Final Four, in 2009, have a Hall of Fame coach in Tom Izzo and come out of the formidable Big Ten.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Even as air raid sirens blared at least four times throughout this morning in central Israel, the country’s military insisted that its air defenses remain formidable and that the waves of Iranian missile attacks are growing less effective.
—Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Cite this Entry
“Formidable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formidable. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
formidable
adjective
for·mi·da·ble
ˈfȯr-məd-ə-bəl
also
fȯr-ˈmid-
1
: causing fear or dread
a formidable foe
2
: offering serious difficulties
the mountains were a formidable barrier
3
: very impressive
had won a formidable number of medals
formidableness
noun
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