formidableadj.
/ˈfɔːmᵻdəbl/, /fəˈmɪdəbl/, /fɔːˈmɪdəbl/, U.S. /ˈfɔrmədəb(ə)l/, /fərˈmɪdəb(ə)l/, /fɔrˈmɪdəb(ə)l/ a. That gives cause for fear or alarm; fit to inspire dread or apprehension. Now usually (with some obscuration of the etymological sense): Likely to be difficult to overcome, resist, or deal with; giving cause for serious apprehension of defeat or failure.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > [adjective]
doubtousa1300
frightya1325
adoubtedc1330
carefulc1340
fearful1340
redoubted1385
doubtful1397
ydouted1399
redoubt1417
redoubtable1421
doubtablec1430
ferdly1440
doubtedc1485
formidable1508
flaited1565
aghasting1593
feared1599
flesh-amazing1679
frightsomea1689
effroyable1689
frightening1715
fearsome1768
fleysome1790
intimidatinga1812
fearable1886
scarifying1916
badass1955
bad-assed1962
superbad1970
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. ee.vv The countenaunce of god shall be so formydable & ferefull yt[etc.].
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. v Of whiche name..foreyne prynces trymbled and quaked, so muche was that name to all nacions terrible & formidable.
1658 T. Wall God's Revenge 30 The Leopard..being..of a formidable aspect.
1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. i. §97. 468/1 Charles..defeated Barbarossa, that formidable Pirat.
a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1690) 80 The decay of Timber in England is no very formidable thing.
1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. iii. 178 A party formidable by their number.
1834 L. Ritchie Wanderings by Seine 74 Swords of formidable dimensions.
1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. lx. 7 He set sail with a formidable armament.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xiv. 97 Along the edge of a formidable precipice of rock.
b. Const. to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or formidable
strengthyc1520
formidable1665
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. ii. xiv. sig. Q6v These Commotions of the Appetite, which would not else perhaps be formidable to me.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 495 The Episcopal schismatics, thus reinforced, would probably have been as formidable to the new King..as [etc.].
c. Often applied playfully or sarcastically.
ΚΠ
1697 J. Dryden Ded. Æneis in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. e1 Unless I wou'd swell my Preface into a Volume, and make it formidable to your Lordship, when you see so many Pages yet behind.
1780 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal iv. i. 43 This is a maiden sister of his..done by Kneller,..and esteemed a very formidable likeness.
1816 M. Keating Trav. (1817) I. 275 His majesty has..a corps de musique of most formidable establishment equally in point of execution as of numbers.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator vii. 23/2 The Thames..is not a very formidable river at that point.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1508