Showing results for "intimidating"

• present participle of intimidate.

intimidating

American  

[in-tim-i-day-ting] / ɪnˈtɪm ɪˌdeɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

1. Sometimes intimidatory intended to frighten someone or to force or stop someone’s action through fear.

   We will not be sucked in to your macho agenda by intimidating threats of violence or seductive promises of power.

2. causing timidity, hesitancy, or anxiety, especially because of difficulty or risk; daunting.

   The day-to-day operations of the healthcare environment can be overwhelming and intimidating to the point of paralysis.

3. causing someone to feel overawed or cowed, as through force of personality or superior display of wealth, talent, rank, etc..

   All the others had gone to Harvard or Yale, and I was just a country hick; it was intimidating, for sure.

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Other Word Forms

• unintimidating
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of intimidating

intimidat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Explanation

Someone or something that causes fear is intimidating. Bullies are intimidating. Anyone or anything that is fearsome, daunting, or terrifying could be called intimidating. Looking at a huge list of vocabulary words is intimidating. Any difficult job can be intimidating. Lots of people find public speaking intimidating. Climbing into the mouth of a volcano and trying to take a photograph for National Geographic would be extremely intimidating, because you could die, and if you don't, what if your pictures aren't that good?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intimidating

He said officers had arrested three men, following reports of "intimidating and obstructive conduct" during canvassing in recent weekends, and "conflict between those canvassing and protesters".

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Whether it is a practical attempt to hide their identity or part of a youth sub-culture, there is no doubt that many people find the sight of masked youths intimidating.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 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

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court overturned Thursday a presidential pardon granted to a hardline Buddhist monk and ordered him to serve the remainder of a six-year prison sentence for intimidating the wife of a missing cartoonist.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

The building itself feels old and a little intimidating.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• aggressive
• frightening
• terrifying