Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

formidability

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: formidabil-i-ty
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The state of being formidable.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"A Mackintosh has been taken, who reduces their formidability, by being sent to raise two clans, and with orders, if they would not rise, at least to give out they had risen, for that three clans would leave the Pretender, unless joined by those two."
"As Damien Hirst’s diamond-encrusted platinum skull has recently indicated, Death’s formidability often encourages extravagance. Mr. Fabre covers a skull in brilliantly colored beetle shells; Mr. Van Oost casts one in silver (with a hand poking its eyes out)."

Etymology

From Latin formīdō (“to fear, dread”) + -ability.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: formīdō
Suffix: -ability

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

formidabilities (plural)

Synonyms

toughness

Questions

What does formidability mean?: The state of being formidable.
Where does formidability come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce formidability

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “formidability”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “formidability”.
Repeat and practice — Say “formidability” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.