# formidable

/ˈfɔɹmədəbəɫ/ (US) · /fɔːmˈɪdəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/formidable
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. inspiring respect or fear

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

very powerful or impressive in a way that makes you feel respect or a little bit of fear.

For teachers: inspiring fear, dread, or awe through impressive size, power, or capability.

- The champion was a formidable opponent who had never lost a match.
- The CEO had a formidable reputation for efficiency, which made even the most senior managers nervous during their annual reviews.

### 2. difficult to overcome

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

very difficult to deal with or defeat.

For teachers: presenting a significant obstacle or challenge that is difficult to surmount.

- The team faced a formidable task when they had to rebuild the bridge in two days.
- Climbing the north face of the mountain remains a formidable challenge, even for the most experienced mountaineers using modern equipment.

## Examples

- The champion is a formidable opponent on the tennis court.
- She has a formidable reputation as a lawyer who never loses a case.
- The mountain range presented a formidable barrier to the early explorers, requiring months of preparation and significant physical endurance to cross.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.