intimidate

[in-tim-i-deyt]

See more synonyms for intimidate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing.

to make timid; fill with fear.
to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.
to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear: to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.

Origin of intimidate

1640–50; < Medieval Latin intimidātus, past participle of intimidāre to make afraid, equivalent to Latin in- in-² + timid(us) timid, afraid + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsin·tim·i·da·tion, nounin·tim·i·da·tor, nounin·tim·i·da·to·ry

[in-tim-i-duh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈtɪm ɪ dəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectiveun·in·tim·i·dat·ed, adjectiveun·in·tim·i·dat·ing, adjective

Can be confusedintimate intimidate

Synonyms for intimidate

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1. frighten, subdue, daunt, terrify.

Synonym study

1. See discourage.

Antonyms for intimidate

1. calm. 3. encourage.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for intimidating

aggressive, frightening, terrifying, bullying, pressuring

Examples from the Web for intimidating

Contemporary Examples of intimidating

The mother, Emily Kruse, was charged with obstructing justice and intimidating a witness.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking
Tina Traster
December 30, 2014
Thanksgiving may be about family, but that comes with an intimidating collection of double-edged swords.
How to Make It Through Thanksgiving Alive
Lizzie Crocker
November 26, 2014
Eventually, Scott began stopping by the offices and intimidating editors into covering his music.
It Was All a Dream: Drama, Bullshit, and the Rebirth of The Source Magazine
Alex Suskind
October 14, 2014
Brienne of Tarth is back on the road—a far more worldly and intimidating figure than her hapless male squire, Podrick Payne.
Game of Thrones’ Ep. 5 'First of His Name' Recap: An Ode to the Women of Westeros
Andrew Romano
May 5, 2014
The group helped set the pattern Bloomberg is using to lend his intimidating campaign some moral heft.
Money and Guns: How We Escape Our Existential Dread
James Poulos
April 18, 2014

Historical Examples of intimidating

I was on the point of saying this, but Schomberg's stare was intimidating.
Falk
Joseph Conrad
"Vow it then, madame," cried the prince, furious at not intimidating his victim.
Laboulaye's Fairy Book
Various
The tone of the press there was intimidating, particularly toward Russia.
The Story of the Great War, Volume I (of 8)
Various
As to intimidating me, or changing my course, the thing cannot be done.
American Sketches
Charles Whibley
Every thing had been done by the Indians to render this show as intimidating as possible.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846
Various

British Dictionary definitions for intimidating

intimidate

verb (tr)

to make timid or frightened; scare
to discourage, restrain, or silence illegally or unscrupulously, as by threats or blackmail

Derived Formsintimidating, adjectiveintimidation, nounintimidator, noun

Word Origin for intimidate

C17: from Medieval Latin intimidāre, from Latin in- ² + timidus fearful, from timor fear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for intimidating

intimidate

1640s, from Medieval Latin intimidatus, past participle of intimidare "to frighten, intimidate," from Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + timidus "fearful" (see timid). Related: Intimidated; intimidating.