Formidable
Formidable adjective - Causing fear.
Usage example: a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
Scary is a synonym for formidable in fear topic. In some cases you can use "Scary" instead an adjective "Formidable", when it comes to topics like spooky. informal substitute
Nearby Word: formidably
Scary
Scary adjective - Causing fear.
Usage example: a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards
Formidable is a synonym for scary in fear topic. You can use "Formidable" instead an adjective "Scary", if it concerns topics such as frightening.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- terrible and formidable
- terrible and scary
- dreadful and formidable
- dreadful and scary
- frightful and formidable
- frightful and scary
- horrible and formidable
- horrible and scary
- appalling and formidable
- appalling and scary
- shocking and formidable
- shocking and scary
- ghastly and formidable
- ghastly and scary
Both words in one sentence
-
They hated him too much to regard him as a Worthy Opponent, but they regarded him as scary and formidable.
Source: Useful Notes / Punic Wars -
Given how formidable and scary she can be, the color suits her well.
Source: Film / La Reine Margot -
Unstoppable Rage: Thor's always a formidable enemy in a fight, but if you push him hard enough, you'll learn just how scary and angry a thunder god can be.
Source: Comic Book / The Mighty Thor
Cite this Source
Scary and Formidable. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/formidable/scary
Formidable & Scary. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/formidable/scary>.
Scary or Formidable. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/formidable/scary.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "formidable" and "scary" have occurred on timeline