intimidate
Americanverb (used with object)
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intimidates,
present (3rd person singular)
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intimidated,
past participle, past
-
intimidating
present participle
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
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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
-
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:
"This isn't about targeting people who wear face coverings for religious, medical or any other legitimate reasons, this is about targeting criminals who feel immune while wearing face coverings to intimidate Nottingham people," Shannon added.
From BBC ● 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
In an interview with The Times, Ochoa denied stealing the trailers and said he sent two people to the restaurant to address payment matters but not to intimidate the couple.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
At his peak, he could intimidate established incumbents into retiring.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
He kicked and battered the air in some clumsy attempt to intimidate Gingersnipes, but she would not be deterred.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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
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
Jane Doe, surrounded by larger men, felt intimidated and unable to leave.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
The Rays weren’t the least bit intimidated by any of it, not even the Yankee fans who invaded their home at the Trop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Samantha Linderman’s middle school was three blocks away from the Los Angeles School of Comedy, but she was always too intimidated to step inside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The leader of Nottingham City Council, Neghat Khan, said residents had felt intimidated when they saw people wearing balaclavas, skeleton masks or other face coverings without a legitimate reason.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
The Pepettes looked intimidated, scared, as the Carter Cowboys moved closer and closer in their bloodred uniforms, the claps getting louder and louder, the chant rhythmic and taunting.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Despite its intimidating size, Vasuki probably was not a particularly fast or agile hunter.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
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
“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
She said people should understand that DJs are working and that entering a booth without permission can be intimidating and potentially dangerous.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
He also has these cold gray eyes that somehow make him more intimidating.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
