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
Getty Images When A Starting Point (ASP) began, my goal was to make complicated policies and issues feel less intimidating, so more people felt comfortable engaging with them because these issues affect us all.
—Mark Kassen, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Is this event also a way to make World and the Orb feel more approachable and less intimidating to the public, especially those skeptical of getting their eyes scanned?
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
For starters, the Nittany Lions play their home games at Beaver Stadium, which can be an intimidating place with seating for 106,572 fans.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
The easier tasks are less intimidating and will help build your confidence to work on something more challenging in the future.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
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Mark Kassen, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Is this event also a way to make World and the Orb feel more approachable and less intimidating to the public, especially those skeptical of getting their eyes scanned?
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
For starters, the Nittany Lions play their home games at Beaver Stadium, which can be an intimidating place with seating for 106,572 fans.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
The easier tasks are less intimidating and will help build your confidence to work on something more challenging in the future.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 2025.
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