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

The murder of an influencer could be interpreted as an attempt to send an intimidating message to the opposing side. — Rey Rodríguez, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

The lower gravity might make that somewhat less intimidating, but the waves will also move more slowly as well, feeling downright eerie compared with Earth’s. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 31 July 2026

Verb

Guimaraes’ arrival takes Arsenal’s midfield from impressive to seriously intimidating. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Some of these spaces can be intimidating for younger fans, and Laufey says this year was all about making these rooms, some of her favorites, inviting to her audience. — Maria Sherman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026