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
Ian ThomsenFirst 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
Daphne Hurford
intimidatingly
adverb
The ship was eerily, intimidatingly empty …
—Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain
… according to the architect Richard Rogers, [Daniel] Libeskind's work isn't just formally arresting—it is intimidatingly smart.
—Jason Cowley
Jason Cowley
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
The foundations themselves are also focused on education to make clinical trials less intimidating.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Catcher Caden Bodine, a top-round prospect, leads Coastal Carolina’s balanced and intimidating lineup.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 June 2025
During the trial, several witnesses recanted prior statements, alleging threatening, intimidating and coercive efforts by Foster and Brian Forberg, the two detectives assigned to the case.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025
While China’s expanding military drills around Taiwan often capture media headlines, Beijing is waging a less visible legal and psychological campaign that nonetheless feels more intimidating to many Taiwanese.
—Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
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Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Catcher Caden Bodine, a top-round prospect, leads Coastal Carolina’s balanced and intimidating lineup.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 June 2025
During the trial, several witnesses recanted prior statements, alleging threatening, intimidating and coercive efforts by Foster and Brian Forberg, the two detectives assigned to the case.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025
While China’s expanding military drills around Taiwan often capture media headlines, Beijing is waging a less visible legal and psychological campaign that nonetheless feels more intimidating to many Taiwanese.
—Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimidating. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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