Showing results for "intimidated"

• past participle of intimidate.
• past tense form of intimidate.

intimidated

American  

[in-tim-i-day-tid] / ɪnˈtɪm ɪˌdeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. made afraid; frightened, especially by the threats or aggression of another.

   The policy, which applies to all police officers, spells out special measures to identify and protect vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.

2. timid or anxious, especially at the prospect of difficulty or risk; daunted.

   Even after the intensive six-week workshop we all attended, I felt somewhat intimidated given the scope of the task before me.

3. overawed or cowed, as through force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, rank, etc..

   I am not from a posh background, and felt very intimidated being in the House of Lords at Westminster.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of intimidate.

Other Word Forms

• unintimidated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of intimidated

intimidate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

When a person has been threatened and made to feel timid, he becomes intimidated. You might be intimidated by a large barking dog, a mean boss, or a pair of skinny jeans you'd love to fit into. The adjective intimidated is derived from the similarly spelled Latin intimidare, meaning “to frighten." Notice within both the English adjective and Latin root another adjective timid, “fearful.” That should help you remember the meaning. Maya Angelou said, “Education helps one cease being intimidated by strange situations.” When you are familiar with something, it becomes less frightful. Synonyms for intimidated include afraid and daunted.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intimidated

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

In a statement following the arrests, the Board of Deputies said the group "would not be threatened or intimidated" and thanked police for their "swift" response.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Too many readers are intimidated and humbled by what they can’t understand, and in some cases that’s precisely the effect the writer is after.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner