intimidating

American  

[in-tim-i-dey-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

"They've had people calling them thieves, shouting at them, it's quite intimidating for these guys - they don't come to work to be shouted at."

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

It’s intimidating to see how much you spend, but truly understanding your habits is the only way to build a smart financial plan that survives when things go south.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

This posture likely helped them reach leaves high in trees and may have made them look larger and more intimidating to predators.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

Spades can be extremely intimidating to start as a beginner playing with pros.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

I stare levelly back, refusing to give him the satisfaction of intimidating me.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• aggressive
• frightening
• terrifying