intimidate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to make timid or frightened; scare
-
to discourage, restrain, or silence illegally or unscrupulously, as by threats or blackmail
Related Words
See discourage.
Other Word Forms
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.
“From day one Blake Lively’s mission was clear: expose and hold accountable those who weaponize smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors,” the statement said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
Two of the people in a continuing civil rights lawsuit accuse DHS of unlawfully using their license plates and biometric data to track and intimidate them for exercising their First Amendment rights.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
“He’s gone so far as to try and intimidate the pope, for God’s sake,” Racicot said.
From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026
The investigation was unprecedented, and Powell released a statement saying it was meant to intimidate him and the Fed.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
It was a deliberate attempt to intimidate him, Stalin believed.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
