Formidable vs. Formative — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 17, 2024
Formidable describes something inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large or powerful; formative refers to a period or experience that shapes one's development.
Difference Between Formidable and Formative
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Something that is formidable often presents a challenge or appears daunting due to its size, strength, or capability. Formative, on the other hand, pertains to influences or experiences that contribute to one's growth or development.
A formidable opponent in sports is one who is feared or highly respected for their prowess, suggesting a significant challenge. Formative years, whereas, are crucial in shaping an individual’s character and skills.
In nature, a formidable mountain might be treacherously steep or extremely high, making it difficult to conquer. A formative experience, such as surviving a challenging hike, can significantly influence a person’s resilience and perspective.
In technology, a formidable machine could be one with outstanding specifications and capabilities that set a high standard in its field. Formative technologies, on the other hand, are those that play a critical role in the development of a particular field or industry.
In a workplace, formidable can describe a task that seems overwhelming or difficult to achieve. In contrast, formative feedback or experiences within the same workplace help in honing professional skills and competencies.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Inspiring fear or respect through size, strength, or ability
Influential in shaping or developing
Usage in context
Often used to describe challenges or powerful entities
Used to describe developmental phases or influences
Connotation
Generally intimidating or awe-inspiring
Growth-oriented and educational
Common applications
Used in describing opponents, obstacles, or conditions
Used in educational, psychological, and developmental contexts
Example of use in a sentence
"The team faced a formidable opponent in the finals."
"His college years were a formative period in his life."
Compare with Definitions
Formidable
Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, or capable.
The formidable presence of the new CEO intimidated many in the company.
Formative
Influential in development or growth.
Formative experiences in childhood often shape adult behavior.
Formidable
Difficult to deal with or overcome.
Climbing the formidable mountain tested every bit of their endurance.
Formative
Pertaining to the formation or development of something.
Feedback plays a formative role in the learning process.
Formidable
Characterized by being impressive in size or abilities.
The formidable fortress stood unbreached for centuries.
Formative
Serving to form something, especially having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development.
Her teacher played a formative role in her career.
Formidable
Marked by powerful and often threatening appearance.
He had a formidable reputation that preceded him in negotiations.
Formative
Descriptive of the time when someone or something is growing or being formed.
The artist's formative years were spent in a small coastal town.
Formidable
Arousing feelings of awe or admiration because of grandeur or strength.
The audience was silent before the formidable performance.
Formative
Involving the formation of something.
The formative stages of the project required intense focus.
Formidable
Arousing fear, dread, or alarm
The formidable prospect of major surgery.
Formative
Forming or capable of forming.
Formidable
Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder
"A woman of formidable intelligence and tenacity, [she] prides herself on being independent-minded" (Nan Levinson).
Formative
Susceptible to transformation by growth and development.
Formidable
Difficult to undertake, surmount, or defeat
A formidable challenge.
A formidable opponent.
Formative
(Biology) Capable of producing new cells or tissue.
Formidable
Causing fear, dread, awe, or discouragement as a result of size, strength, or some other impressive feature; commanding respect; causing wonder or astonishment.
Formative
Of or relating to formation, growth, or development
The formative stages of a plot.
Formidable
Difficult to defeat or overcome.
A formidable opponent
Formative
(Linguistics) Relating to the formation or inflection of words.
Formidable
Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter, or undertaking; alarming.
They seemed to fear the formodable sight.
I swell my preface into a volume, and make it formidable, when you see so many pages behind.
Formative
A derivational or inflectional affix.
Formidable
Extremely impressive in strength or excellence;
A formidable opponent
The challenge was formidable
Had a formidable array of compositions to his credit
The formidable army of brains at the Prime Minister's disposal
Formative
Of or pertaining to the formation and subsequent growth of something.
My formative years were spent in an inner city.
Formidable
Inspiring fear;
The formidable prospect of major surgery
A tougher and more redoubtable adversary than the heel-clicking, jackbooted fanatic
Something unnerving and prisonlike about high gray wall
Formative
Capable of forming something.
Formative
(biology) Capable of producing new tissue.
Formative
(grammar) Pertaining to the inflection of words.
Formative
(education) Denoting forms of assessment used to guide learning rather than to quantify educational outcomes.
Formative
(grammar) A language unit that has morphological function.
Formative
Giving form; having the power of giving form; plastic; as, the formative arts.
The meanest plant can not be raised without seed, by any formative residing in the soil.
Formative
Serving to form; derivative; not radical; as, a termination merely formative.
Formative
Capable of growth and development; germinal; as, living or formative matter.
Formative
That which serves merely to give form, and is no part of the radical, as the prefix or the termination of a word.
Formative
Minimal language unit that has a syntactic (or morphological) function
Formative
Relating to or characterized by formative effects or formation;
The formative arts
Formative
Susceptible to alteration by development and experience;
Formative years
Formative
Beginning to develop;
Inchoative stages
Formative
Capable of forming new cells and tissues;
A formative zone in developing bone
Formative
Forming or capable of forming or molding;
A formative influence
A formative experience
Common Curiosities
What are some examples of formative experiences?
Childhood education, significant life events, or any influential phases in personal or professional life can be formative.
How is the term formative typically used?
It is used to describe periods, experiences, or influences that contribute significantly to a person’s development.
Can a person be described as formidable?
Yes, particularly if they have qualities that inspire awe or fear due to their capabilities or achievements.
What does formidable mean in a general sense?
It refers to something that is impressively large, powerful, or capable, often causing fear or respect.
Is formidable always negative?
Not necessarily; it can also imply respect for something grand or powerful.
What makes an opponent formidable?
Strength, skills, or a history of successes that make them a daunting challenge.
What role does feedback play in formative processes?
Feedback is crucial as it guides and influences growth and improvement.
How does one identify a formative period in life?
It's identified by significant growth or changes in personal development.
Are formative years only during childhood?
No, formative years can also refer to any significant developmental phase, including adulthood.
How do the contexts of formidable and formative differ?
"Formidable" is typically used in competitive or challenging contexts, while "formative" relates to developmental or educational settings.
Can a landscape be formidable?
Yes, landscapes like mountains or deserts can be described as formidable due to their challenging nature.
Can technology be formidable?
Yes, technologies that are highly advanced or significantly better than others can be considered formidable.
How do formidable and formative relate to each other?
While they can be seen in contrast, both terms deal with significant impact—formidable in terms of challenge, formative in terms of growth.
Can formative be used to describe short-term events?
While it usually pertains to longer periods, impactful short-term events can also be considered formative.
What is a formative influence?
An influence that significantly shapes or molds a person's character or abilities.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
