intimidation

American  

[in-tim-i-day-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

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Etymology

Origin of intimidation

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

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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

Its organizers say their volunteers will help voters understand their rights, document possible intimidation and provide reassurance amid fears of immigration enforcement activity near polling places.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

“Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton’s passing,” the filing, obtained by People, alleged.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

Even when local law enforcement is working with election officials, officers are subject to the same voter intimidation restrictions as anybody else, Diaz said.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has told Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi that the UK will "not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil".

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

But I will not give in to the intimidation.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

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

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

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2022

“Nothing justifies intimidations and violence toward an elected official of the Republic,” Mr. Macron wrote on Twitter.

From New York Times ● Feb. 10, 2019

“Wine is always so filled with rules and intimidations and people feeling insecure. He actually breaks it down just beautifully. He gives people a certain security and lifts all these myths.”

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2018

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

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Related Words

• coercion

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