intimidate

verb in·tim·i·date \ in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt \

Definition of intimidate

intimidated; intimidating

transitive verb

:to make timid or fearful :frighten; especially :to compel or deter by or as if by threats

tried to intimidate a witness

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intimidation

play \in-ˌti-mə-ˈdā-shən\ noun

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intimidator

play \in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tər\ noun

See intimidate defined for English-language learners

See intimidate defined for kids

Examples of intimidate in a Sentence

He tries to intimidate his opponents.
You shouldn't allow his reputation to intimidate you.

Recent Examples of intimidate from the Web

She was charged Aug. 17 in Waukesha County Circuit Court with misdemeanor intimidating a witness and felony bail jumping.

— steven martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Complaint: Oconomowoc mother who hogtied son urged him to lie in court during trial," 28 Aug. 2017
Obama: Militarized gear can sometimes alienate and intimidate people Play Video1:21Live Video Please enable flash to watch this video.

— tom jackman, Washington Post, "Trump to restore program sending surplus military weapons, equipment to police," 27 Aug. 2017
The symbolism is exactly as clear as if Lyndon Johnson had gone out of his way in the 1960s to pardon Southern sheriffs or mayors who were intimidating civil-rights protestors.

— james fallows, The Atlantic, "Why the Arpaio Pardon Matters," 27 Aug. 2017
Most customers weren’t overjoyed, they were intimidated.

— ed wallace, star-telegram, "Selling cars," 21 July 2017
Blue, famous for its line of podcast microphones, hopes to make planar magnetic technology less intimidating with its Ella headphones (buy here).

— mark walton, Ars Technica, "Blue Ella review: Planar magnetic tech sounds great, but costs too much," 20 July 2017
Playing outside in the shadow of the Lincoln statue, though, was intimidating, exciting, scary and a great honor all at once, Arnold said.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "3 Doors Down comes knocking in Elgin," 15 July 2017
The government has been accused of intimidating and restricting the media, taking CNN en Español off the air.

— euan mckirdy, CNN, "Venezuela's fugitive helicopter cop appears at opposition rally," 14 July 2017
People who had municipal jobs or contracts to lose were then intimidated into not supporting me.

— frank scaturro, National Review, "How a Political Machine Crushes Conservatism — and Democracy," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intimidate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of intimidate

Medieval Latin intimidatus, past participle of intimidare, from Latin in- + timidus timid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1646

See Words from the same year

intimidate Synonyms

Synonyms

blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, cow, hector, mau-mau, strong-arm, pick on

Related Words

bluster, trash-talk; affright, alarm (also alarum), frighten, horrify, scare, shock, spook, startle, terrify; menace, terrorize, threaten; badger, harass, hound; bludgeon, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, force, make, oblige, press, pressure, push around; demoralize, psych (out), unman, unnerve; discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, upset

Near Antonyms

cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, steel; convince, persuade

Synonym Discussion of intimidate

intimidate, cow, bulldoze, bully, browbeat mean to frighten into submission. intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

- intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

- not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

- bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

- bullied into giving up their lunch money

browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

- browbeat the witness into a contradiction

INTIMIDATE Defined for English Language Learners

intimidate

verb

Definition of intimidate for English Language Learners

: to make (someone) afraid

INTIMIDATE Defined for Kids

intimidate

verb in·tim·i·date \ in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt \

Definition of intimidate for Students

intimidated; intimidating

:to frighten especially by threats

Law Dictionary

intimidate

transitive verb in·tim·i·date \ in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt \

legal Definition of intimidate

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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