What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
formidable
Example
The army faced a formidable enemy in battle. [formidable: adjective]
Example
The athlete had a formidable task ahead of him, but he trained hard and succeeded. [formidable: noun]
daunting
Example
The thought of giving a speech in front of a large audience was daunting for the shy student. [daunting: adjective]
Example
The mountain climber faced a daunting climb to the summit, but he persevered and reached the top. [daunting: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Daunting is more commonly used than formidable in everyday language. Daunting is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while formidable is less common and tends to be used in more formal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between formidable and daunting?
Formidable is more formal than daunting, and it is often used in academic or professional contexts. Daunting is more casual and can be used in both formal and informal settings.
