1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is a formidable undertaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formidable
The Monaco Grand Prix takes place this year between May 23 and 25 and is one of the most formidable circuits in the car racing world.
—
Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025
Samuel joins an already formidable offense in Washington led by record-breaking rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Pro Bowl receiver Terry McLaurin.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
And Ralph Fiennes, who has been guided through the season principally by Premier PR’s Laura Symons and Relevant’s Nicole Caruso, has been so underrated this season because his formidable portrait in Conclave is the least showy.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
The actress is a formidable presence while also displaying incredible showmanship and physicality in her dance routines (a bit of pre-Emilia Perez pizazz).
—Megan Vick, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025
Samuel joins an already formidable offense in Washington led by record-breaking rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Pro Bowl receiver Terry McLaurin.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
And Ralph Fiennes, who has been guided through the season principally by Premier PR’s Laura Symons and Relevant’s Nicole Caruso, has been so underrated this season because his formidable portrait in Conclave is the least showy.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
The actress is a formidable presence while also displaying incredible showmanship and physicality in her dance routines (a bit of pre-Emilia Perez pizazz).
—Megan Vick, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formidable
Adjective
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And yet somehow, this horror film about a family whose new home is haunted by a spirit never runs out of gas, managing to resonate as a powerful domestic drama and as a terrifying story about grief and love.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
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Tran swears that having a physical manifestation to interact with is why the terrifying sequences work.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As college sports continues its rapid professionalization, the ACC is in a difficult spot.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
19 Mar. 2025
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Most of the files are scans of documents, and some are blurred or have become faint or difficult to read in the decades since Kennedy's assassination.—
Joel Shannon,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While studying a rare species whose mating call appears to be the frightening shrieks the team has been hearing in the woods, the pair hired Kodiak (McHale) as their guide.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2025
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Granted that a 1 degree Celsius change in world average temperature can translate into a 4-degree Celsius increase in some of the most climate precarious countries, this last scenario is frightening.—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Global hiring can offer a fresh solution in these challenging times.—
James Peters,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Morgan Stanley's chief strategist anticipates a challenging few months for U.S. stocks as President Donald Trump's tariff policies continue to fuel market volatility.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a lot to love with Tuten and his ceiling is super high, but the floor is extremely scary because of his fumbles.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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But any reduction of uncertainty can be helpful when so much of it has been sending the U.S. stock market on big, scary swings not just day to day but also hour to hour.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Another really tough stretch is ahead for the Heat.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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The only trick: Choose a dye that’s gentle on the hair, tough on grays, and easy to apply.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Traditional networks grant access just because a device is on the network, which is a terrible idea.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Other adults in the room opt to avert their eyes as Jamie disrobes, but Eddie can’t turn away, out of a mix of protectiveness and horrified shock, in the same way that there’s no editor to protect the characters, the actors, or the audience from having to live in each terrible moment of the scene.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Facing those challenges, top education officials moved to eliminate the elementary school at P.S. 76, and merge grades 6-8 with Mott Hall II, a nearby middle school that is adding a rigorous high school program.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
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State Department officials interview applicants and submit them to a rigorous screening that includes an FBI background check.—
Tazreena Sajjad,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formidable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formidable. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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