intimidate

verb

in·​tim·​i·​date in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt 

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

intimidation

in-ˌti-mə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

intimidator

in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• bully
• frighten
• scare
• coerce
• startle
• browbeat

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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

Following his arrest, law enforcement learned that Reardon called the Israeli Consulate in Boston 98 times between Oct. 7, 2023 and Jan. 29, 2024, and made harassing and intimidating statements. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025

If you're intimidated by orange, Dior's Rouge Dior Lipstick in 200 Nude Touch is a great starter shade with a beautiful warm undertone, as is Fenty Beauty's Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in Noodz & Dudez. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 14 Aug. 2025

Starting school for the first time can be an intimidating change. —Mia Thurow, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025

As autocrats commonly do, Trump is seeking control over the national capital in order to intimidate and squelch dissent. —Robert Weissman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intimidate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

intimidate

verb

in·​tim·​i·​date in-ˈtim-ə-ˌdāt 

intimidated; intimidating

: to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

intimidation

-ˌtim-ə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

intimidator

-ˈtim-ə-ˌdāt-ər 

noun

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)

intimidatingly adverb

intimidation

in-ˌti-mə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

intimidator

in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tər 

noun