intimidate

verb

in·​tim·​i·​date in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt How to pronounce intimidate (audio)
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 noun
intimidator noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Swatting is the criminal practice of calling law enforcement, particularly Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, to someone's house in order to harass or intimidate them. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 As intimidating as the private equity process may be for franchisors, the jargon and statistics that are a part of everyday franchise life are just as opaque to investors. Patrick Galleher, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 But Trump and his lackeys are also using a second tactic: trying to undermine public confidence in the judiciary — even inviting threats to the safety of judges and seeking to intimidate them. Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025 Trump might intimidate tech titans to toe the line and use government power to try to bend institutions like Harvard University and judges, but some world leaders are harder to bully. Stephen Collinson, CNN Money, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for intimidate

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intimidate was in 1646

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intimidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimidate. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

intimidate

verb
in·​tim·​i·​date in-ˈtim-ə-ˌdāt How to pronounce intimidate (audio)
intimidated; intimidating
: to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
intimidation noun
intimidator noun

Legal Definition

intimidate

transitive verb
in·​tim·​i·​date in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt How to pronounce intimidate (audio)
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 noun
intimidator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on intimidate

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