Formidable
adjective /ˈfɔːmɪdəbl/ — Inspiring respect simply by existing in the room.
Definition
Inspiring fear, respect, or admiration through impressive size, strength, skill, or character.
Beyond the definition
Formidable is not intimidating — it's earned. It's the person or challenge that makes you pause, recalibrate, and decide to bring your best. There's something almost admiring about this word.
Origin & history
From Latin formidabilis — causing fear (formido: fear, dread). But in modern use, the fear has softened into something closer to awe.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She was a formidable negotiator — calm, prepared, and three moves ahead.
The mountain was formidable but not impossible, and that made it worth climbing.
There's something formidable about someone who has simply lived through a great deal.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Formidable” when the meaning fits your context: Inspiring fear, respect, or admiration through impressive size, strength, skill, or character.
Synonyms
impressive, powerful, daunting, commanding, redoubtable, mighty
Antonyms
weak, unimpressive, feeble, insignificant
Related words
- indomitable
- redoubtable
- audacious
- gravitas
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Person Dwarfed by Waterfall
A small adult stands on a rock ledge before a massive, crashing waterfall, dwarfed by the sheer scale of the vertical canyon walls.
Formidable describes something that inspires respect or admiration through impressive scale and power. The waterfall’s massive, overwhelming beauty and vertical height create a sense of awe, making the natural landscape feel daunting, powerful, and inherently impressive to the small figure standing before it.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Formidable" mean?
Formidable is adjective meaning: Inspiring respect simply by existing in the room.. Inspiring fear, respect, or admiration through impressive size, strength, skill, or character.
Where does the word "Formidable" come from?
From Latin formidabilis — causing fear (formido: fear, dread). But in modern use, the fear has softened into something closer to awe.