For"mi*da*ble (?), a. [L. formidabilis, fr. formidare to fear, dread: cf. F. formidable.]

Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter, or undertaking; alarming.

They seemed to fear the formidable sight. Dryden.

I swell my preface into a volume, and make it formidable, when you see so many pages behind. Dryden.

Syn. -- Dreadful; fearful; terrible; frightful; shocking; horrible; terrific; tremendous.

 

© Webster 1913.