intimidating

adjective in·tim·i·dat·ing \ in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tiŋ \

Definition of intimidating

:causing feelings of fear, awe, or timidity

a stern teacher with a very intimidating manner

an intimidating display of strength

—

intimidatingly

adverb

- an intimidatingly complex subject

Recent Examples of intimidating from the Web

Between this and 2015's ramshackle True Detective Season Two, this could be seen as something of an intense pivot for Vince Vaughn, probably best known for his litany of comedy work, but he's been creepy and intimidating in a lot of stuff.

— tom philip, GQ, "Vince Vaughn's Pivot to Bleak, Violent Drama Continues in This Brawl in Cell Block 99 Trailer," 30 Aug. 2017
While George W. Bush was speaking in his third debate against Al Gore that season, Gore deserted his podium, deliberately took half a dozen steps over to Bush’s, and loomed over the shorter man, inches away, trying to look intimidating.

— kyle smith, National Review, "Hillary Excuse No. 1,756: Trump Stood Too Close to Me," 28 Aug. 2017
Their reasons for wanting to learn were mainly: 1. Conquering poultry fears in a non-intimidating situation. 2. Augmenting their life skills. 3.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "How to cut up a whole chicken: Reclaiming this lost art," 18 Aug. 2017
The students at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women are mostly African-Americans who face a depressing variety of challenges, many of them quite intimidating.

— walter addiego, kansascity, "‘Step’ documentary is an inspiring leap toward empowerment," 10 Aug. 2017
Shorts have never been inspirational or intimidating, not one time.

— esquire editors, Esquire, "If You're Going to Wear Shorts, Consider These 15 Important Hot Takes," 3 Aug. 2017
This season, WKU nixed those powerhouse SEC programs, but still has a solid, but hardly intimidating Vanderbilt team along with a struggling Big Ten program in Illinois on the agenda.

— drew hill, The Courier-Journal, "Less challenging Western Kentucky football schedule gives room for more wins," 27 July 2017
As any true art aficionado will tell you, the experience of finding a piece of art that speaks to you can be quite personal...and, to be real, a little intimidating.

— rachel swalin, ELLE Decor, "The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's New Text Service Will Send Art Straight To Your Phone," 20 July 2017
Almost all are filled with anti-Semitic slurs and intimidating language.

— terry collins, CBS News, "Here's the brutal reality of online hate," 6 July 2017

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

First Known Use of intimidating

1758

intimidating Synonyms

Synonyms

alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, fearful, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying

Antonyms

benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender

Related Words

daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms

calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening

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intimidating

Definition of intimidating

intimidatingly

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First Known Use of intimidating

intimidating Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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intimidating

Definition of intimidating

intimidatingly

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