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
Synonym Usage
See discourage.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
intimidatesimple
-
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
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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:
"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
One of the MPs hit with a ban, Laura McClure, told RNZ that China was trying to intimidate New Zealand lawmakers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 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
“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
It’s not fencing season, but the white-suited figures intimidate.
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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
I find it so fascinating when people are baking like, "Baking intimidates me, baking scares me, so many steps, numbers, math, science, da da, da, da, da."
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2023
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 allows for prosecution if a photographer threatens, stalks, intimidates or causes distress.
From Reuters ● May 18, 2023
It’s clear by now that no pitcher, from Scherzer to Verlander, intimidates the youngster.
From Seattle Times ● May 27, 2022
To be honest, something about the big houses intimidates me, and I’m already nervous.
From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly
But even the director himself was a little intimidated as he began adapting Homer's 2,700-year old story.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
At first I was intimidated, but that didn’t last.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Uzbekistan, playing in its first World Cup, was not intimidated by the big stage, weathering a withering Colombia attack in a 3-1 loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026
Feeling a bit intimidated after my last interaction, I decided to text instead of call.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
Once I was her, I wouldn’t be intimidated by someone like Neil.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
And one grew up to be the most intimidating soccer player in the entire world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
CPS workers—who are often referred to in low-income communities as “the family police”—are tasked with addressing social welfare needs after they’ve already lost the trust of families by intimidating and judging them during investigations.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
The new season, which drops weekly on the Tastemade YouTube channel, takes viewers back to the basics, helping them create scratch staples at home and demystifying some of the most intimidating aspects of home cooking.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
Presumably, those who could afford the intimidating ticket and parking prices at SoFi Stadium considered the experience worthwhile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2026
In fact, this intimidating entrance is all part of the vendor’s security shell, to deter window-shoppers.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
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.
