intimidate

[ in-tim-i-deyt ]

/ ɪnˈtɪm ɪˌdeɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: intimidate / intimidated / intimidates / intimidating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing.

to make timid; fill with fear.

to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.

to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear: to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.

OTHER WORDS FOR intimidate

1 frighten, subdue, daunt, terrify.

See synonyms for intimidate on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR intimidate

1 calm.

3 encourage.

See antonyms for intimidate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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, -ate¹

synonym study for intimidate

1. See discourage.

OTHER WORDS FROM intimidate

in·tim·i·da·tion

[in-tim-i-dey-shuhn] /ɪnˌtɪm ɪˈdeɪ ʃən/ nounin·tim·i·da·tor, nounin·tim·i·da·to·ry

[in-tim-i-duh-tawr-ee], /ɪnˈtɪm ɪ dəˌtɔr i/, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intimidate

intimate, intimidate

Words nearby intimidate

intimated, intimately, intimation, Intimations of Immortality, intime, intimidate, intimidated, intimidating, intimidation, intimist, intinction

How to use intimidate in a sentence

They said in an interview that guards and inmates had been making intimidating comments to her following her accusations and that she felt unsafe.
ICE Deported a Woman Who Accused Guards of Sexual Assault While the Feds Were Still Investigating the Incident|by Lomi Kriel|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
In the past six months, Eknelygoda’s wife, Sandya, said she believed witnesses in the case were being intimidated, and threats to her and surveillance of her family had increased.
These 10 journalists are missing, and COVID is impeding investigations|lbelanger225|September 1, 2020|Fortune
Keep immigrants feeling unwelcome, keep them afraid, keep them intimidated, and keep them away from knowing and asserting their rights, including their right to vote.
New U.S. Citizens Were One Of The Fastest-Growing Voting Blocs. But Not This Year.|Eileen Guo|August 31, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Cops, for instance, couldn’t intimidate a witness, lie in the course of an investigation or participate in a law enforcement gang with “a pattern of rogue on-duty behavior.”
Sacramento Report: Jones, COVID-19 and the Irony of Remote Voting|Sara Libby and Jesse Marx|August 28, 2020|Voice of San Diego

They are easily intimidated and remain silent for fear of retaliation, fear of losing their jobs, fear that nobody will listen or believe them.
Temp Workers Fight Back Against Alleged Sexual Harassment and Say They Face Retaliation for Doing So|by Melissa Sanchez|August 28, 2020|ProPublica
And nowadays, politicians and CEOs frequently employ the color to command respect and intimidate.
Scarlet Is the New Black|Raquel Laneri|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When ISIS beheaded an American journalist, it meant to intimidate—and provoke—the United States.
Obama vs. ISIS: This Time It's Personal|Eli Lake|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One pilot friend in Zwara pointed out that just “two Apaches,” attack helicopters, would intimidate the militias into a ceasefire.
It’s Not the USA that Made Libya the Disaster it is Today|Ann Marlowe|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Sunday, Iroquois defenders used them to intimidate and pummel Canadians in a second-half surge.
A Millennium After Inventing the Game, the Iroquois Are Lacrosse’s New Superpower|Evin Demirel|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You know, you had a government using its tools to intimidate the population.
The Conservatives' Great Black Hope|Evan Gahr|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On one occasion a noted professional duellist thought that he could intimidate him.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Were these figures going to the enemy Chief they might intimidate him—coming here they alarm me.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2|Ian Hamilton
To intimidate them, Dunmore issued proclamations, and threatened freeing the slaves against their masters.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson
She had a faint hope that the room might intimidate this Western girl, but instead of intimidation there was exultation.
The Butterfly House|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
They were trying to intimidate him—to make him flinch; each was urging the other on to some immediate act of personal violence.
North and South|Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

British Dictionary definitions for intimidate

intimidate

/ (ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to make timid or frightened; scare

to discourage, restrain, or silence illegally or unscrupulously, as by threats or blackmail

Derived forms of intimidate

intimidating, adjectiveintimidation, nounintimidator, noun

Word Origin for intimidate

C17: from Medieval Latin intimidāre, from Latin in- ² + timidus fearful, from timor fear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

intimidate

OTHER WORDS FOR intimidate

OPPOSITES FOR intimidate

Origin of intimidate

synonym study for intimidate

OTHER WORDS FROM intimidate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intimidate

Words nearby intimidate

Words related to intimidate

How to use intimidate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intimidate

Derived forms of intimidate

Word Origin for intimidate