intimidate

American  

[in-tim-i-deyt] / ɪnˈtɪm ɪˌdeɪt /

verb (used with object)

intimidated, intimidating

1. to make timid; fill with fear.

   Synonyms:

   terrify, daunt, subdue, frighten

   Antonyms:

   calm

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

3. to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear.

   to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.

   Antonyms:

   encourage

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intimidate British  

/ ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt /

verb

1. to make timid or frightened; scare

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

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Related Words

See discourage.

Other Word Forms

• intimidating adjective
• intimidation noun
• intimidator noun
• intimidatory adjective

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; in- ², timid, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

"Multiple foreign regimes are monitoring, harassing and intimidating members of our diaspora communities," he said.

From Barron's

She added: "We are providing record funding for security at synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres. I will go further to strengthen police powers so they can crack down on intimidating protests."

From BBC

The world was so intimidatingly large, but a single book had connected it for him.

From Literature

“Many survivors feel that this was a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence them.”

From Salon

The growth, fans say, reflects a reality about many college kids: They’re intimidated by real-life courtship and overwhelmed by the endless scroll of dating apps.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alarm
• awe
• bully
• coerce
• constrain
• daunt
• dishearten
• dismay
• scare
• subdue
• terrify
• terrorize