intimidating 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tiŋ How to pronounce intimidating (audio)
Definition of intimidatingnext
1
as in terrifying
causing fear the school's seniors faced the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 intimidating
Adjective
The result is a more intimidating cousin of last season’s leopard obsession, with enough personality to make even the simplest outfit look considerably more interesting. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Eli Manning spent 16 seasons staring down some of the NFL's most intimidating defensive players. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
The North Port is a major hub for container and cruise traffic, possibly producing an intimidating environment for the shark. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 He was accused of harassing, threatening, and intimidating the women in person, through social media, and on his podcast. — Patrick Damp, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidating
  1. terrifying
  2. gruff
  3. bullying
  4. frightening
  5. fierce
  6. scaring
  7. formidable
  8. stern
Adjective
  • Malerman’s truly terrifying horror novel, 2024’s Incidents Around the House, upon which Other Mommy is based, tells the tale of struggling married couple Ursula and Ross and their young daughter, Bela.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Scottie’s punishing, smothering treatment of Judy, who bears much more than a passing resemblance to Madeleine, borders on truly terrifying to many women watching the film.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • Loneliness looms as a threat to all genders, but men, who are lauded for gruff stoicism and scorned for vulnerability, can be especially ill-equipped to navigate atomization.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • His reputation for having a gruff demeanor, Sweet says, is accurate, but attack ads that portray him as antagonistic toward women go too far.
    — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruff
Verb
  • Wilson said students often played games during school, and in some cases, shared secret Google Docs that resulted in bullying.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Tailor’s Wife/bullying local queen bee (Elizabeth Debicki) sets out to sabotage the romance.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of bullying
Adjective
  • The frightening part is that almost anyone can end up on the wrong side of these systems.
    — Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Sussman remembers the 1999 Glastonbury Festival as both frightening and unforgettable.
    — Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • But this latest poll reflects a fierce anti-Trump sentiment among Michigan voters.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • As the company navigates fierce critics and a wave of communities outside the Atlanta area ending their contracts, Flock has been tightening some standards on its own, nationwide.
    — Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of fierce
Verb
  • Together the duo enjoy scaring themselves into a teeth-chattering but delightful evening.
    — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Universal announced that Nikki, the character Navarrette plays in Obsession was going to roam all of Horror Nights, scaring people and taking photos like Art the Clown, Dracula, and the Weeknd in years past.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of scaring
Adjective
  • Oscar winners Vasarahelyi and Chin’s original intent was to document the quest of Morrison and his life partner, elite ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson, to summit the dangerous north face of Everest and ski down the formidable Hornbein Couloir.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Remarkably, he’s accomplished this feat while using a 400-pound power wheelchair — navigating not just the globe but formidable accessibility barriers.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • Mbappe’s comments additionally drew a stern rebuke from the Chinese Football Association, which has demanded a public apology from Madrid.
    — Tom Williams, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Golden had a stern message for his players in the locker room.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of stern

Browse Nearby Words

intimidates
intimidating
intimidation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidating. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of effrontery

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All