intimidate
verb
in·tim·i·date
in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt 
intimidated; intimidating
: to make timid or fearful : frighten
especially
: to compel or deter by or as if by threats
tried to intimidate a witness
Examples of intimidate in a Sentence
He tries to intimidate his opponents.
You shouldn't allow his reputation to intimidate you.
Recent Examples on the Web
For those who may be too intimidated by this coaster, there’s plenty of other things to do at the park.
—
Megan Dubois, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
The act defined various forms of nightriding -- including going out in disguise at night to intimidate or assault people or to damage or destroy property, as well as the delivery or posting of threatening notices -- and set various prison terms and fines.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 2025
The whole big cut of beef can be intimidating because of its size and, let’s face it, what that hunk of meat costs.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 19 Dec. 2025
And although the Chinese diaspora is vast and economically dynamic—a great many of the world’s major cities have a Chinatown—the party sees Chinese people living abroad as potential sources of ideological risk and has been known to monitor and intimidate them.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidate
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Megan Dubois, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
The act defined various forms of nightriding -- including going out in disguise at night to intimidate or assault people or to damage or destroy property, as well as the delivery or posting of threatening notices -- and set various prison terms and fines.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 2025
The whole big cut of beef can be intimidating because of its size and, let’s face it, what that hunk of meat costs.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 19 Dec. 2025
And although the Chinese diaspora is vast and economically dynamic—a great many of the world’s major cities have a Chinatown—the party sees Chinese people living abroad as potential sources of ideological risk and has been known to monitor and intimidate them.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidate
Cite this Entry
“Intimidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimidate. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intimidate
verb
in·tim·i·date
in-ˈtim-ə-ˌdāt
intimidated; intimidating
: to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
Legal Definition
intimidate
transitive verb
in·tim·i·date
in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt
intimidated; intimidating
1
: to make timid or fearful
especially
: to compel or deter by or as if by threats see also coercion
2
: to engage in the crime of intimidating (as a witness, juror, public officer in the performance of his or her duty, or victim of a robbery or other crime)
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