intimidating

American  

[in-tim-i-dey-ting] / ɪnˈtɪm ɪˌdeɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

1. Sometimes intimidatory intended to frighten someone or to force or stop someone’s action through fear.

   We will not be sucked in to your macho agenda by intimidating threats of violence or seductive promises of power.

2. causing timidity, hesitancy, or anxiety, especially because of difficulty or risk; daunting.

   The day-to-day operations of the healthcare environment can be overwhelming and intimidating to the point of paralysis.

3. causing someone to feel overawed or cowed, as through force of personality or superior display of wealth, talent, rank, etc..

   All the others had gone to Harvard or Yale, and I was just a country hick; it was intimidating, for sure.

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Other Word Forms

• unintimidating adjective

Etymology

Origin of intimidating

intimidat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Stoppard’s cleverness, while the source of his fame and prestige, was intimidating to some and off-putting to others.

From Los Angeles Times

Arizona State, the University of Arizona and Oregon State have strong name recognition, actively recruit in California and feel less intimidating to students because they’re relatively close to home, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Let’s face it: Preparing and roasting a turkey is intimidating.

From Salon

It has an adjustable light for middle-of-the-night inspiration and its interface has preloaded templates, such as weekly planners, in case staring at a blank screen is intimidating.

From The Wall Street Journal

A venomous Mitchell Starc struck three times during an intimidating opening spell to leave England in trouble on day one of the first Ashes Test against Australia on Friday in Perth.

From Barron's

Related Words

• aggressive
• frightening
• terrifying