intimidate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
intimidates,
present (3rd person singular)
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intimidated,
past participle, past
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intimidating
present participle
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
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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
-
had intimidatedperfect
-
was intimidatingprogressive
-
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:
They used their control of Yemeni telecoms systems to listen in on their enemies’ calls and to sow confusion and intimidate their rivals into giving up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
“Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don’t represent the best of America,” he said.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
The meeting discussed the emergence of Patriot Platform with ministers believing the group aims to intimidate communities.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Civil rights organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union accused the department of attempting to intimidate the public by arming agents with another use-of-force option.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Uncle Turu was trying to intimidate the stranger into a trade, pushing his nose close to the man’s face, snorting like the turu, the bull for which he was named.
From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis
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
Second, and crucially, it intimidates opponents into silence and quiescence.
From Slate ● Dec. 6, 2024
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
When he looks at the Mona Lisa, he sees the same contradictory mix, and it intimidates him.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
Jane Doe, surrounded by larger men, felt intimidated and unable to leave.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
Often high school graduates with learning needs can “feel too intimidated and overwhelmed to apply for college” and others, including adults, “may be unaware that community college is even an option.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Luckily I went after I mainly finished writing the book because otherwise I would have been so intimidated by the physical manifestation of how much Christie means to people.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
"I was shaking, I felt so intimidated," she continued.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
This is such an interesting thing to say that I’m intimidated into silence.
From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender
Law enforcement often coordinates with election officials to keep officials and voters safe without their presence intimidating voters, he said.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
Recent BBC reporting has highlighted cases across the country of balaclava-clad young men riding illegally on footpaths and intimidating residents.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
“The prospect of having to do all of that alone can be very intimidating for women” who are also dealing with trauma and rebuilding their lives, Messenger said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, said the industry takes a "zero-tolerance approach" to misogynistic, intimidating, threatening or inappropriate behaviour.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
I don't know why, but it feels intimidating.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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.
