1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is a formidable undertaking
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of formidable
Arnold has fought some formidable foes in his career, but hordes of desperate parents doing last-minute holiday shopping are, strangely, among the most stressful.
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Sezín Devi Koehler, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Together mother and daughter make a formidable team, and recently Marimar was honored as a Sonoma County Icon for blazing the trail as both a female winery owner as well as a visionary for planting one of the first vineyards so close to the Pacific Ocean.
—Liz Thach, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Throughout her short but formidable career, Consani has walked in shows for some of the biggest luxury brands in the world, including Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Jacquemus.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 3 Dec. 2024
Hayat Tahrir Al Sham The most prominent and formidable one of those rebel groups is Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), also known as the Organization for the Liberation of the Levant.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for formidable 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formidable
Adjective
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The paranormal phenomena spooking Spongebob and Squidward has a mundane explanation, but the entity flickering the lights turns out to be none other than Nosferatu, who reassures them with a terrifying smile; amusingly, Spongebob and Squidward are relieved to see him.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzer was awakened to a terrifying sight.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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An at least 200-year-old celebration of French and Mediterranean cuisine, macarons are renowned as the ‘impossible dessert,’ a result of the notoriously involved and difficult baking process.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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The manual entry of damage to structures like bridges used to be very expensive and time-consuming, a complex process made even more difficult by the fact that data entry and analysis are performed by both the agency’s own staff and external companies.Stephanie Glenk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Or maybe the next gen of AI swerves us even deeper into the uncanny valley in yet unknown and frightening ways.Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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In the dark winter months, Krampus associations in villages hold parades, playfully frightening onlookers on Krampusnacht by chasing them and hitting them with sticks during a run through the streets.Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Gracefully opting out Navigating the discomfort of setting boundaries around gift-giving traditions can be challenging.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
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The hospitality industry grapples with a challenging post-pandemic recovery and mounting environmental pressures.Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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History says such a two-year performance in itself is neither a scary portent nor a ticket to further riches.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
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Arizona is known for scorpions, tarantulas and other scary bugs, but that's not all.Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In a time when people approach political, social and economic issues with a different set of information and fake news is rampant, the best way to do that is to approach tough conversations with stories rather than facts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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The clients’ storefronts are positioned to succeed in a sometimes tough marketplace by focusing on exclusivity and quality.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Jack McBrayer plays a flustered resort concierge who delivers the terrible news to two bridezilla-esque adults who won’t be walking down the aisle in white but are still very invested in the nuptials.Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
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Food is terrible, the vibe is off, absolutely trash.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The legal profession has long been recognized for its rigorous standards and competitive environment.Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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The finding that Israel has perpetrated genocide is a conclusion based on painstaking research and rigorous legal analysis.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near formidable
Cite this Entry
“Formidable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formidable. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
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