1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is a formidable undertaking
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formidable
This, needless to say, was a formidable challenge.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
That spring Ossoff handily won the Democratic primary and then faced a formidable challenger from the Republican Party, former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Ezra Ausar and Jacob Cofie are physically formidable, while Chad Baker-Mazara and Alijah Arenas are wings who can create shots and – most of the time – sink them.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
His decision closed the door on a rematch that many political observers viewed as one of the most formidable challenges to the incumbent.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
That spring Ossoff handily won the Democratic primary and then faced a formidable challenger from the Republican Party, former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Ezra Ausar and Jacob Cofie are physically formidable, while Chad Baker-Mazara and Alijah Arenas are wings who can create shots and – most of the time – sink them.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
His decision closed the door on a rematch that many political observers viewed as one of the most formidable challenges to the incumbent.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formidable
Adjective
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After reviewing footage from monitoring cameras set up in the child’s room, the father, who has not been publicly identified, saw a terrifying incident of violence against his son, which had taken place two days earlier, according to authorities.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Many mothers in the Twin Cities marched the streets in the wake of the murders and terrifying kidnappings by ICE, and many mothers organized in other ways, moving food and money to food shelves, families sheltering-in-place, and rent relief funds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Training and case management through FRAP is supposed to help attorneys deal with what Clegg calls a difficult area of law.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
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Will this race and the other changes create an opportunity for NASCAR to turn the page on its difficult 2025?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The bodycam video was an eye-opening look at the frightening aftermath of the Brown campus shooting when police were searching room-by-room for the suspect, trying to comfort and care for terrified students, and trying to coordinate with campus police to get past locked doors.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
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In 2017 Dikansh Parmar of the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change in Germany, rescued an Indian cobra (Naja naja) coiled around a train’s window bars that was hissing and, understandably, frightening passengers.—
Richard Kemeny,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There are more advanced, and challenging techniques, like slicing or chipping for more bulbs.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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This is not complicated or challenging music, and at times the chord progressions are simple enough to make one yearn for a bit more spikiness.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The scariest jump in ice skating requires your shoulders, hips, knees and feet to be in perfect alignment.—
Kelly O'Grady,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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Range anxiety never sounded so scary.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Most importantly, Alvarado relishes in his role as a tough-nosed, point-of-attack defender, an area the Knicks have had trouble despite building a roster with notable defenders across all positions.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
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With a durable and tough rubber sole featuring Vibram's TC5+ technology, each step offers the right amount of flex and resistance for a comfortable hiking experience.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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America just passed the 50th anniversary of one of its truly terrible days — one that future historians can track as the beginning of the end of our democracy.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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Busch was terrible defensively at third.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These athletes spend their lives focusing on building physical strength through rigorous training and diets that are honed to provide the nutrients necessary to excel at their sport.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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Every mortgage article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formidable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formidable. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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