1
as in terrifying
causing fear
the school's seniors faced the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intimidating
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
Long guns, very intimidating guns.
—Heather Abbott, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Shannon Keating, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 June 2026
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this posed a threat to maritime security and accused the EU of intimidating civilian vessels.
—Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Adjective
Appearing in the three episodes leading up to the season 6 finale, Willis played Paul Stevens, the intimidating father of Ross' student girlfriend.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
Long guns, very intimidating guns.
—Heather Abbott, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Verb
But the prospect of showing up to a group event solo (my wife isn’t much of a hiker) was intimidating.
—Shannon Keating, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 June 2026
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this posed a threat to maritime security and accused the EU of intimidating civilian vessels.
—Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidating
Adjective
-
This terrifying, wondrous circle spinning around us here on Earth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 June 2026
-
What would be terrifying is to not have that opportunity.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
Platner, a gruff 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran, is trying to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins with a platform of economic populism, universal health care, labor protections, and anti-interventionism.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The fifth installment tackles tech, friendship, and bullying through a memorable adventure.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
17 June 2026
-
Warsh comes in as the handpicked nominee of a president who has been bullying the Fed for years for lower rates.—
Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Earlier movie versions have managed the story’s most frightening moments with the limited technology available at the time—much plastic and spongy stuff; monsters in process shots looming over little men; papier-mâché boulders flung from hilltops.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
-
Even more frightening, the percentage exceeded 50% in many groups, including insects, terrestrial vertebrates, and marine species.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Despite a few glimmers of good feeling, today's fierce political divisions have redefined a milestone that has often been marked by unity and optimism, at least for a moment.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
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An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.—
Valerie Gonzalez,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
Episodes find the gang scaring people for class assignments while carefully keeping the monster world under wraps.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
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But she was saved by three bystanders who yelled out, scaring him off and chasing him through the park, sources said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
More than 30 years ago, Anna and her manager and trusted companion, Betsy Samson (a formidable Denise Burse), fled to Europe on the heels of a highbrow scandal.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Sure, Carpenter’s cut-the-ruggers are pizzazzing with their flips and cartwheels, but the Grande gang make formidable dance foes in the Sharks and Jets sense of the word.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Judges have to throw the book at those arrested to teach them a stern lesson.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
-
However, for students graduating right now, Hammer can't really summon up anything stern to say.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidating. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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