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.