Synonym Chooser

How is the word intimidate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of intimidate are browbeat, bulldoze, bully, and cow. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

When is browbeat a more appropriate choice than intimidate?

The meanings of browbeat and intimidate largely overlap; however, browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

When would bulldoze be a good substitute for intimidate?

The words bulldoze and intimidate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When is it sensible to use bully instead of intimidate?

The synonyms bully and intimidate are sometimes interchangeable, but bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

Where would cow be a reasonable alternative to intimidate?

While in some cases nearly identical to intimidate, 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of intimidate Giant skeletons, scarecrows and spooky décor in intimidating sizes are a growing trend. Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025 Advertisement In a press conference on Thursday, organizers accused Republicans of attempting to intimidate people from attending. Richard Hall, Time, 18 Oct. 2025 But Lorch wasn’t just intimidating to coaches and scouts on the travel-team circuit. Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025 The two men embarked on a long journey from concept to product to create a wine that speaks to the preferences of today’s consumers, who want quality and style without the intimidating jargon of traditional wine culture. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intimidate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidate
Verb
  • Cipher bullies other characters across the season about their powers, but because of Andre and Polarity’s degenerative abilities, this underscores the eugenics behind his beliefs.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
  • He was wrapped up in a high-profile bullying scandal during the 2013 season.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When the Maitlands' attempts to frighten the Deetzes away fail miserably, Barbara and Adam turn to the mysterious and mischievous Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to rid them of the living.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Around 100 pairs were found abandoned on the roof, perhaps due to the thieves being frightened away, Sheriff John Budensiek said at the news conference.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Actors dressed as sadistic guards and disturbed prisoners, jump-scaring visitors from the prison cells.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • During that March 20 game, according to the feds, Porter was coerced into rigging games by others who threatened him due to his pre-existing gambling debts.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The retail giant agreed to the settlement to resolve an antitrust lawsuit filed by the FTC in 2023, in which federal officials alleged that Amazon coerced millions of consumers into enrolling in Prime subscriptions and then made those agreements extremely difficult to cancel.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Across America, Halloween spending is expected to reach record levels this year, including large crowds waiting for their chance to be chased, startled and screamed at.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • White disappears completely into the role without skirting parody, portraying the exhausted hitmaker as startled by his own numbness, blanked out and unsure of what to do next.
    Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This might take a series of browbeating prompts, but that’s not a big deal.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Not to mention the relentless White House campaign to browbeat Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower rates while auditioning dovish successors.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Intimidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on intimidate

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