intimidation

American  

[in-tim-i-dey-shuhn] / ɪnˌtɪm ɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

• intimidations
  plural

1. the act of inducing fear or awe.

   The true motive of most street harassment is intimidation.

2. the act or process of attempting to force or deter an action by inducing fear.

   She spoke passionately about the violence and intimidation suffered by African Americans in Mississippi seeking to register to vote.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• intimidations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of intimidation

intimid(ate) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Intimidation is when you try to frighten a weaker person into doing what you want. You might use intimidation to get your brother to mow the lawn for you. Intimidation can refer to the act of making someone feel timid or afraid — like what you sometimes do to your brother — or it can also refer to that fearful feeling itself. Intimidation might make members of a jury hesitate to convict a defendant. Intimidation can also refer to feeling threatened, discouraged, or afraid because you're facing something stronger or superior. You might feel a sense of intimidation right before your soccer team plays the undefeated state champs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intimidation intimidations

"Volunteers, health workers, and humanitarian staff must be able to carry out their work in complete safety, without fear of violence, intimidation, or threats."

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

Bonta said the new law responds to a climate of intimidation affecting immigrant aid workers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Parliament member Ofer Cassif, of Hadash, an Arab-Jewish communist party, told AFP he was concerned opposition voters could face intimidation before and during the election -- not only from police but from "private, armed militias".

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

But if Spain’s tactics revolved around control, patience, and invention, Argentina’s approach to Sunday focused more squarely on intimidation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

I praised the response as “magnificent” to the press, lauding our people for “defying unprecedented intimidation by the state.”

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

She believes Combs cut them from the band because neither would give in to his intimidations on and off camera.

From Salon ● Jan. 27, 2025

But Ms. Curtis — who describes herself as a terrible surfer — is determined to help the inexperienced overcome the intimidations of a notoriously difficult sport.

From New York Times ● Oct. 30, 2022

“Your intimidations and subversive actions have only swelled the ranks of Africans concerned with preserving their dignity.”

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2022

“In the face of threats, intimidations, we say to Governor Alfaro that he is not alone, that we are with him in facing the challenge of crime,” López Obrador said.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 18, 2020

For two years it had become plain to him, with what danger this impure game of false statesmanship, this system of bribes, frauds, flatteries, and intimidations threatened the Confederacy, exposed to it on all sides.

From The Life and Times of Ulric Zwingli by Johann Jakob Hottinger

Related Words

• coercion