formidability

C2+ Topic:Emotions & Feelings

US /ˌfɔrmɪdəˈbɪləti/ UK /ˌfɔːmɪdəˈbɪləti/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
the quality of inspiring fear, awe, or respect by strength

The fortress's formidability deterred even the boldest besiegers.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the quality of inspiring... fearsomenessstrength power mightredoubtablenessintimidation

Opposites

weakness feebleness harmlessness

Word family

Related forms formidable formidably

Etymology

From formidable (from Latin formidabilis 'causing fear', from formidare 'to dread', from formido 'fear, dread') plus the noun suffix -ity. It denotes the quality of inspiring fear or awe.

formidabilis Latin formido Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Emotions & Feelings Word Formation & Derivatives

# formidability

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˌfɔrmɪdəˈbɪləti
**IPA (UK):** ˌfɔːmɪdəˈbɪləti

## Meanings
1. the quality of inspiring fear, awe, or respect by strength

## Examples
- The fortress's formidability deterred even the boldest besiegers.

## Synonyms
- fearsomeness
- strength
- power
- might
- redoubtableness
- intimidation

## Antonyms
- weakness
- feebleness
- harmlessness

## Related Forms
- formidable
- formidably

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: formidabilis
- Root: formido

## Etymology
From formidable (from Latin formidabilis 'causing fear', from formidare 'to dread', from formido 'fear, dread') plus the noun suffix -ity. It denotes the quality of inspiring fear or awe.

## AI Etymology
Formidability comes from formidable (from Latin formidabilis 'causing fear', from formidare 'to dread', from formido 'fear, dread') plus the noun suffix -ity. It denotes the quality of inspiring fear or awe. The development is chiefly a borrowing or learned continuation, carrying an older form and meaning into English rather than building the word from a purely native base. In present use, it is used as a noun meaning "the quality of inspiring fear, awe, or respect by strength", so the historical material remains connected with the current sense rather than standing as bare ancestry. The wider English family includes related forms such as formidable and formidably, showing how the same historical material continues to organize neighboring vocabulary. The named historical forms include Latin formidabilis and Latin formido, keeping the history tied to concrete forms rather than a loose resemblance.

## Topics
- Emotions & Feelings
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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