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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. adj. Arousing fear or awe; formidable.
  2. adj. Worthy of respect or honor.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. That is to bo dreaded; formidable; terrible: as, a redoubtable hero; hence, valiant: often used in irony or burlesque.
  2. Worthy of reverence.

Wiktionary

  1. adj. Eliciting respect or fear; imposing; awe-inspiring.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. adj. Formidable; dread; terrible to foes; ; hence, valiant; -- often in contempt or burlesque.

WordNet 3.0

  1. adj. worthy of respect or honor
  2. adj. inspiring fear

Etymologies

  1. Middle English redoubtabel, from Old French redoutable, from redouter, to dread : re-, re- + douter, to doubt, fear; see doubt.

Examples

  • “General Byng's attack covered the whole length of what had become known as the redoubtable and supposedly impregnable "Hindenburg line," so called because it had been established by that greatest of all German military geniuses, Field Marshal von Hindenburg.”

    The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders Or, the Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge

  • “Lucien watched this Dauriat, who addressed Finot with the familiar tu, which even Finot did not permit himself to use in reply; who called the redoubtable Blondet “my boy,” and extended a hand royally to Nathan with a friendly nod.”

    A Distinguished Provincial at Paris

  • “The eldest actually flinched when Simon called the redoubtable Mrs. Frederick by her first name.”

    Simon & Schuster: Generous Death

  • “But, Charles having got over to Scotland where the men of the Solemn League and Covenant led him a prodigiously dull life and made him very weary with long sermons and grim Sundays, the Parliament called the redoubtable Oliver home to knock the Scottish men on the head for setting up that Prince.”

    A child`s history of England

  • “League and Covenant led him a prodigiously dull life and made him very weary with long sermons and grim Sundays, the Parliament called the redoubtable Oliver home to knock the Scottish men on the head for setting up that Prince.”

    A Child's History of England

  • “Lucien watched this Dauriat, who addressed Finot with the familiar tu, which even Finot did not permit himself to use in reply; who called the redoubtable Blondet "my boy," and extended a hand royally to”

    Lost Illusions

  • “Thompson also says his friend, the "redoubtable" Chris Sparks of Sparking Design, has launched the "Team Cul de Sac" fundraising site for Parkinson's research.”

    The Washington Post: TEAM CUL DE SAC: Richard Thompson launches cartoon campaign to fight Parkinson's

  • “He admits he had to look up "redoubtable" in the dictionary when New York Times columnist William Safire used the word to describe his legal acumen.”

    Newsweek: Bagels & Lox Vs. Wheat Bread

  • “President Thabo Mbeki has congratulated the "redoubtable" fourteen-year-old former street child, Bongani Mvumvu, who triumphed in the World Dressage Championships in Germany at the weekend.”

    ANC Daily News Briefing

  • “He lives with his grandmother, Rosie the redoubtable Mary Jo Catlett.”

    The Huffington Post: James Scarborough: The Wedding Singer, Musical Theatre West

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Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘redoubtable’.

Comments

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‘redoubtable’ has been looked up 2271 times, loved by 4 people, added to 67 lists, commented on 3 times, and has a Scrabble score of 16.