French Conversation · Level 77
60 words
French word
redoutablement
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁədutabləmɑ̃/
Meaning
- adverbextremely
Example
Cette machine est redoutablement efficace.
This machine is extremely efficient.
More examples
Ce restaurant est redoutablement cher.
This restaurant is extremely expensive.
Core concept
A small effect suddenly expanded until it dominates the scene with impressive force.
Common phrases
redoutablement cher
extremely expensive
redoutablement drôle
extremely funny
redoutablement rapide
extremely fast
Similar words
très: To a fairly high degree.
vraiment: Really or truly, with emphasis on certainty or feeling.
extrêmement: To an exceptionally high degree.
terriblement: To an intensely high degree, especially of an emotion or experience.
Definition in French
Intensifie fortement une caractéristique, parfois avec une tonalité dramatique ou ironique.
Word origin
The adverbial ending -ment turns redoutable into redoutablement, while redoutable is derived from redouter and ultimately from Latin dubitare through douter.
Usage tips
- Redoutablement often sounds more emphatic or literary than a neutral intensifier, and its strong tone can be deliberately ironic.
Other meanings
- remarkablyadverb
Opposites
- peulittleadverb
- modérémentmoderatelyadverb
Related words
- redoutableformidableadjective
- redouterfearverb