Synonyms for formidable
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Redoubtable
redoubtable, terrific, terrifying, tremendous, daunting, serious, alarming, horrid, frightening, frightful, terrible, dreadful, awful, fearful, unnerving, shocking, appalling, horrifying, horrible, horrific, gruesome, grisly
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Causing fear, dread, awe, or discouragement as a result of size, strength, or some other impressive feature; commanding respect; causing wonder or astonishment.
Related words
- Word family
- formidability
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That which is formidable is worthy of fear if encountered or opposed; as, a formidable array of troops, or of evidence. Formidable is a word of more dignity than dangerous, and suggests more calm and collected power than terrible; formidable is less overwhelming than tremendous.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- tremendous Fadil must have felt a tremendous amount of guilt.
- terrifying Ziri listened to one of Rima's terrifying stories.
- terrific "You look terrific. Did you lose weight?" "I wish."
- redoubtable She was politely described as a redoubtable dowager.
- impressive Would you like to see something really impressive?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| formidable | steady | |
| tremendous | falling | |
| terrifying | rising | |
| terrific | rising | |
| redoubtable | steady | |
| impressive | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- awful2
- 6 letters
- freaky2, horrid2, grisly2
- 7 letters
- serious3, fearful2
- 8 letters
- terrible3, horrible3, shocking2, terrific3, horrific3, dreadful2, alarming3, daunting2, gruesome2
- 9 letters
- appalling3, unnerving3, frightful2
- 10 letters
- impressive3, tremendous3, terrifying4, horrifying4
- 11 letters
- frightening3, redoubtable4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (awful2 = 2 syllables).