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; 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."

Example Sentences

With enough warships, a blockade could intimidate many tankers attempting to move oil to and from Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

"It is extremely concerning to see this kind of behaviour, which is a clear attempt to intimidate and punish Anthropic for refusing to remove ethical safeguards," Sir Sadiq wrote.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Klausner also ruled that some of the actions that Seitz’s attorneys argued were meant to intimidate him instead appeared to be “routine law enforcement interactions.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

"India seem to intimidate Pakistan on the cricket field .. they are so much better in all facets of the game & such a better mentality of coping with the huge occasion."

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

President Johnson used his imposing physical stature and outsized personality to intimidate others, 1965.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

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