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

Luckily I went after I mainly finished writing the book because otherwise I would have been so intimidated by the physical manifestation of how much Christie means to people.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Regan told investigators and The Times that he swore at Bartholow but denied that he physically intimidated her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

"We want everyone to enjoy living or visiting Kings Heath and not be intimidated," Insp Thompson says.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

I’d been so intimidated by all the sleek, confident girls who’d been going to the Karolyi Ranch together for years that I could barely find my voice.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles