Synonyms of intimidating

intimidating 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tiŋ 

1

as in terrifying

causing fear

the school's seniors faced the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrifying
• frightening
• formidable
• scary
• horrible
• terrible
• alarming
• fearful
• dread
• shocking
• horrifying
• creepy
• forbidding
• startling
• eerie
• fearsome
• threatening
• trying
• dreadful
• daunting
• frightful
• troubling
• ghastly
• disturbing
• redoubtable
• gruesome
• discouraging
• unnerving
• horrendous
• spine-chilling
• dire
• disconcerting
• demoralizing
• hair-raising
• direful
• perturbing
• disquieting
• weird
• distressing
• dismaying
• hideous
• appalling
• nightmarish
• monstrous
• grisly
• macabre
• awful
• horrid
• bone-chilling
• atrocious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• calming
• inviting
• tranquilizing
• consoling
• nonthreatening
• quieting
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

2

as in gruff

harsh and threatening in manner or appearance

an intimidating bodyguard keeping the fans away from the pop star

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruff
• fierce
• stern
• grim
• rugged
• hostile
• forbidding
• bleak
• severe
• rough
• lowering
• stark
• hardened
• dour
• austere
• dark
• cold
• stubborn
• steely
• flinty
• somber
• ungentle
• unfriendly
• solemn
• black
• inhospitable
• determined
• stiff
• moody
• inimical
• unsympathetic
• resolute
• adamant
• purposeful
• uncompromising
• unflinching
• rigid
• serious
• bound
• intent
• steadfast
• obstinate
• unrelenting
• implacable
• hard
• resolved
• willful
• immovable
• inflexible
• obdurate
• unyielding
• surly
• unbending
• firm
• fixed
• sullen
• sulky
• unsmiling
• hardheaded
• gloomy
• unchangeable
• immutable
• morose
• brooding
• joyless
• cheerless
• melancholy
• humorless
• mulish
• melancholic
• ironhanded
• glum
• staid
• grave
• weighty
• sober
• set
• self-willed
• sobersided

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benign
• gentle
• mild
• easy
• soft
• soothing
• meek
• quiet
• bland
• mellow
• tender
• pleasant
• benignant
• sweet
• tranquil
• nonintimidating
• cheerful
• agreeable
• bright
• inviting
• pleasing
• happy
• glad
• silly
• playful
• lighthearted
• frivolous
• goofy
• merry
• sunny
• mirthful
• giddy
• scatterbrained
• flighty
• harebrained
• featherbrained
• light-headed

intimidating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of intimidate

as in bullying

to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

refusing to be intimidated by the manager's harsh stare, I demanded my money back

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bullying
• frightening
• scaring
• startling
• coercing
• browbeating
• shocking
• cowing
• hectoring
• harassing
• badgering
• threatening
• bulldozing
• terrifying
• strong-arming
• picking on
• bullyragging
• menacing
• blackjacking
• horrifying
• pressuring
• alarming
• terrorizing
• blustering
• bogarting
• spooking
• disturbing
• compelling
• unnerving
• forcing
• disconcerting
• upsetting
• demoralizing
• trash-talking
• distressing
• obliging
• constraining
• hounding
• disquieting
• bludgeoning
• perturbing
• affrighting
• pressing
• pushing around
• dragooning
• making
• unmanning
• discomposing
• psyching (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering
• consoling
• encouraging
• convincing
• persuading
• solacing
• emboldening
• heartening
• steeling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of intimidating

Adjective

Art can make difficult conversations less intimidating by giving people something tangible to discuss, Corona said. — Donnisa Edmonds, jsonline.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The nozzle is also relatively easy to access and replace from the front of the toolhead, making swaps and maintenance far less intimidating than on many older enthusiast printers. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026

Verb

For all its intimidating size and appearance, the giant huntsman is reclusive and not considered dangerous to humans. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026

For many organizations, personalization sounds intimidating or expensive. — Jodi Amendola, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026