Question

formidable 【FORMIDABLE】The enemy's attack was more formidable than we had expected.这敌人的攻击较我们先前所欲侧的要难以克服。【重点词汇】formidable adj. 难以克服的 反: feeble

Accepted Answer

['fɔːrmɪdəbl] 
formidableextremely impressive in strength or excellence
What do the national debt, your old gym teacher, and your mother-in-law have in common? They're all formidable — that is, they inspire fear and respect thanks to their size, or special ability, or unusual  qualities. (Or possibly all three in the case of your mother-in-law.)
What's interesting about formidable is that we often tend to use it about things that, while they may scare us, we can't help being pretty impressed by all the same. A formidable opponent is almost by definition a worthy one; a formidable challenge almost by definition one worth rising to. Not surprisingly, this word is derived from the Latin formidare, "to fear."
All forms of 'formidable' will appear on average once every 331 pages.formidabilityformidableformidably
CHOOSE RIGHT WORDS: FORMIDABLE-FORMATIVE
			Formidable describes a foe you're slightly  afraid of, but formative describes  what formed you. Perhaps a formidable gymteacher scared the pants off you during  your formative years in grade school,  and now you're a world-class athlete. (Or a bookworm, depending on how you  react to formidable foes.)
  If  you're a software designer, Microsoft is a formidable opponent. Such an enemy is one you dread, or perhaps respect or are awed by,  because of its power, size, or capabilities. If you have a formidable vocabulary, you have a lot of words to choose from:

"A really formidable fighter can be worth  more than a horse," he said. (New York  Times)
  
    Temple turned out to be more formidable than most  expected. (Washington Post)
  
    Heath Shuler is taking on an even more formidable opponent:  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Knoxville  News)

Something formative shapes or forms a person or thing. Your early years are generally considered formative because they greatly influence who you are. Let's form an idea from some  examples:

Psychologists have always stressed the formative influence of parents, but siblings have been studied less. (New York Times)
  
    Marc Webb's film explores the formative years of  Peter Parker, previously played on screen by Tobey Maguire. (BBC)
  
    Naturally, he has formative memories  built around the intersection of the team with his life. (Seattle Times)

Remember:  your formative period was when you  were learning to become a formidable foe  for words with unruly definitions. And mean gym teachers.

Front	formidable
Pron	['fɔːrmɪdəbl]
Back	【FORMIDABLE】 The enemy's attack was more formidable than we had expected. 这敌人的攻击较我们先前所欲侧的要难以克服。【重点词汇】 formidable adj. 难以克服的反: feeble
Vocab	formidableextremely impressive in strength or excellence What do the national debt, your old gym teacher, and your mother-in-law have in common? They're all formidable — that is, they inspire fear and respect thanks to their size, or special ability, or unusual qualities. (Or possibly all three in the case of your mother-in-law.) What's interesting about formidable is that we often tend to use it about things that, while they may scare us, we can't help being pretty impressed by all the same. A formidable opponent is almost by definition a worthy one; a formidable challenge almost by definition one worth rising to. Not surprisingly, this word is derived from the Latin formidare, "to fear." All forms of 'formidable' will appear on average once every 331 pages. formidability formidable formidably CHOOSE RIGHT WORDS: FORMIDABLE-FORMATIVE Formidable describes a foe you're slightly afraid of, but formative describes what formed you. Perhaps a formidable gymteacher scared the pants off you during your formative years in grade school, and now you're a world-class athlete. (Or a bookworm, depending on how you react to formidable foes.) If you're a software designer, Microsoft is a formidable opponent. Such an enemy is one you dread, or perhaps respect or are awed by, because of its power, size, or capabilities. If you have a formidable vocabulary, you have a lot of words to choose from: "A really formidable fighter can be worth more than a horse," he said. (New York Times) Temple turned out to be more formidable than most expected. (Washington Post) Heath Shuler is taking on an even more formidable opponent: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Knoxville News) Something formative shapes or forms a person or thing. Your early years are generally considered formative because they greatly influence who you are. Let's form an idea from some examples: Psychologists have always stressed the formative influence of parents, but siblings have been studied less. (New York Times) Marc Webb's film explores the formative years of Peter Parker, previously played on screen by Tobey Maguire. (BBC) Naturally, he has formative memories built around the intersection of the team with his life. (Seattle Times) Remember: your formative period was when you were learning to become a formidable foe for words with unruly definitions. And mean gym teachers.

Formidable Formative Years Times Expected Gym Respect Size