intimidate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to make timid or frightened; scare
-
to discourage, restrain, or silence illegally or unscrupulously, as by threats or blackmail
Synonym Usage
See discourage.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
intimidatesimple
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intimidatessimple
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have intimidatedperfect
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has intimidatedperfect
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am intimidatingprogressive
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are intimidatingprogressive
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is intimidatingprogressive
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have been intimidatingperfect progressive
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has been intimidatingperfect progressive
Past
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intimidatedsimple
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had intimidatedperfect
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was intimidatingprogressive
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were intimidatingprogressive
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had been intimidatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of intimidate
First recorded in 1640–50; from Medieval Latin intimidātus, past participle of intimidāre “to make afraid,” equivalent to Latin in- verb-formative prefix + timid(us) “afraid” + -ātus past participle suffix; see in- 2, timid, -ate 1
Explanation
You can see "timid" in the middle of intimidate, and to be timid is to be frightened or to pull back from something. When you intimidate, you frighten or make someone afraid. A pet rat might intimidate your sister's friends, keeping them out of your fort. "To frighten" or "make fearful" is at the root of the verb intimidate. An animal might intimidate a smaller animal by bearing its teeth, and a person can intimidate another by threatening to do something harmful. You can be intimidated with mental or emotional bullying, as well as with something physical: "they were all good spellers, but some of them knew how to intimidate the competition into thinking they didn't have a chance at winning the spelling bee."
Vocabulary lists containing intimidate
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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The Breadwinner
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Twelve Angry Men
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The lawsuit brought under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 says the groups sought to make an example of Khalil to intimidate the movement for Palestinian rights.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
"People don't understand that StubHub's name of their game is to intimidate you, defer you, and deny you," Clements told the BBC, also citing legal dispute notices that were mailed to the company but returned.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
He is so eager to intimidate survivors that he’s willing to pay the price of reminding Americans that E. Jean Carroll — and the harrowing, compelling story she tells — exists.
From Salon ● May 29, 2026
On Thursday, he denied that his administration was seeking to intimidate Havana when asked about positioning the USS Nimitz near Cuba.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
"You think you can intimidate me with your swanlike good looks, but I'm not that kind of girl."
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
Offering a lot to process—historically, technically and visually—“Sèvres Extraordinaire!” is that rare species of exhibition that impresses and intimidates in equal measure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025
“We’ve seen that this system suppresses and intimidates the majority of children,” said Salwa Duaibis, co-founder of Military Court Watch, a Palestinian legal advocacy group.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2023
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 allows for prosecution if a photographer threatens, stalks, intimidates or causes distress.
From Reuters ● May 18, 2023
If using gelatin intimidates you, refer to this handy guide, which explains how to use both sheet and powdered gelatin.
From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2022
He lives in New York and still intimidates the hell out of me.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
At one roundabout, 25-year-old Kasim Ramadan gathered with four or five friends, determined not to be intimidated.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
At first I was intimidated, but that didn’t last.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Dr Huurman is not intimidated by working in a male-dominated field although she explains there are challenges.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
The idea is to have expert hairstylists train uninitiated or intimidated fathers on how to comb and braid their kids’ hair, using salon-type head mannequins but in a setting for bros.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
When you are sixteen, adults are slightly impressed and almost intimidated by you.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
But they can be intimidating for anyone who hasn’t practiced those sports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
I know changing careers is intimidating, but I applaud your self-awareness.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
This ability may have helped them reach leaves high in trees, appear more intimidating to predators, attract mates, or reproduce.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
These men were striking figures, as intimidating as they were irresistible.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Only Katahdin, with its rocky upper slopes and startling muscularity, offers anything that looks faintly intimidating.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
