intimidating

adjective

in·​tim·​i·​dat·​ing in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tiŋ 

: causing a loss of courage or self-confidence : producing feelings of fear or timidity

an intimidating snarl

a boss with a very intimidating manner

The Red Army athletes were the most intimidating of competitors.

—Ian Thomsen

First jobs are intimidating for everyone, but few people have to cope with the stresses of the workplace at such a tender age as ballet dancers do.

—Daphne Hurford

intimidatingly adverb

The ship was eerily, intimidatingly empty …

—Anthony Bourdain

… according to the architect Richard Rogers, [Daniel] Libeskind's work isn't just formally arresting—it is intimidatingly smart.

—Jason Cowley

Synonyms of intimidating

• terrifying
• frightening
• formidable
• scary
• horrible
• terrible

Examples of intimidating in a Sentence

the school's seniors faced the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams

an intimidating bodyguard keeping the fans away from the pop star

Recent Examples on the Web

Presumably, those who could afford the intimidating ticket and parking prices at SoFi Stadium considered the experience worthwhile. —Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026

As a designer taking over a venerable house, previews with her were both a bit intimidating but always heartwarming. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 11 June 2026

Appearing in the three episodes leading up to the season 6 finale, Willis played Paul Stevens, the intimidating father of Ross' student girlfriend. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026

This was a young team coming off two painful losses at home and facing one of the most intimidating road environments of them all at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. —Sam Amick, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intimidating

• accelerating
• accentuating
• accommodating
• accumulating
• adjudicating
• administrating
• affiliating
• agglutinating
• alienating
• alleviating
• amalgamating
• ameliorating