redoubtable

American  

[ri-dou-tuh-buhl] / rɪˈdaʊ tə bəl /

adjective

1. that is to be feared; formidable.

2. commanding or evoking respect, reverence, or the like.

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redoubtable British  

/ rɪˈdaʊtəbəl /

adjective

1. to be feared; formidable

2. worthy of respect

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Other Word Forms

• redoubtableness noun
• redoubtably adverb

Etymology

Origin of redoubtable

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English redoutable, from Middle French, equivalent to redout(er) “to fear” ( re- re- + douter “to fear, doubt” ) + -able “be capable of”; doubt, -able

Example Sentences

While fans may wonder what’s next for the redoubtable Leduc after Paris, it’s clear from the intricate plotting and tantalizing loose ends that Black has plenty of stories left to tell.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet can the old-style Chadian strongman system function and sustain itself in the absence of the redoubtable figure who had created the regime?

From BBC

“I didn’t act thinking, I just thought,” Sukowa said of her performance as Arendt, known for her redoubtable intellect.

From New York Times

Now that more American sports leagues are within weeks of their scheduled returns, the anticipation has encountered a redoubtable foe, one that muddles the comeback experience: trepidation.

From Washington Post

He’s been credited with modernizing the House of Windsor behind the scenes, making the royal estates profitable and being a redoubtable supporter of the monarch.

From Seattle Times