intimidation
Americannoun
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the act of inducing fear or awe.
The true motive of most street harassment is intimidation.
-
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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of intimidation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing intimidation
"The Hill We Climb," by Amanda Gorman
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Cesar Chavez's Commonwealth Club Address (1984)
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Because They Marched
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the BBC visited a monastery in July last year that had once been at heart of Tibetan resistance, monks spoke of living under fear and intimidation.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
"This has been happening a lot, but people fear to come out and tell their story because of the intimidation," he told AFP by phone.
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also condemned the arson attacks and said "no one should face intimidation, threats or attacks because they hold public office".
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
In addition, aggressive behavior, verbal and physical intimidation and hate speech were banned.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
It did not raise the specter of intimidation as Manhattan did; it was intimate but not provincial, a city that might yet be kind to you.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
