Meaning & use
formidable person
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Meaning
nouncountable
someone who is impressive, powerful, or difficult to deal with because of their abilities or strong character
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a formidable person' or 'formidable people'.
Patterns
- a formidable person
- a formidable opponent
- formidable in something
She is a formidable person in the world of business, known for her sharp mind.
He may look quiet, but he is a formidable person once he starts arguing.
The team faced a formidable person as their new coach.
Word forms
| plural | formidable people |
|---|
Common combinations
- a formidable opponent
- The young chess player proved to be a formidable opponent.
- formidable reputation
- The lawyer had a formidable reputation for winning difficult cases.
- formidable presence
- Her formidable presence filled the room as soon as she entered.
- formidable intellect
- He was known for his formidable intellect and quick wit.
Synonyms and how they differ
- impressive
- More general and positive; 'formidable' adds a sense of power or slight threat that makes someone hard to challenge.
- intimidating
- Focuses on making others feel nervous or afraid; 'formidable' can also suggest respect rather than fear.
- redoubtable
- Very formal and literary; 'formidable' is more common in everyday and news writing.
Opposites
Word family
- formidably adverb
- in a way that is impressive or difficult to deal with
- formidableness noun
- the quality of being formidable (rare)
Commonly confused: formidable person or formative?
formidable person vs formative
'Formative' means having an important influence on development, as in 'formative years'. It does not mean impressive or powerful.
Practice
Despite her small size, the new manager was a _____ person who quickly earned everyone's respect.
Choose one answer.
'Formidable' fits because it describes someone impressive and powerful. 'Formative' means influential in development, not powerful. 'Formal' means following official rules. 'Former' means previous, which does not fit the meaning here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “formidable person”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.