Synonyms of intimidate

intimidate 1 of 3

verb (1)

in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt 

as in to bully

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

• bully
• frighten
• scare
• coerce
• startle
• browbeat
• strong-arm
• harass
• threaten
• bulldoze
• cow
• shock
• badger
• hector
• terrify
• pick on
• terrorize
• blackjack
• horrify
• bullyrag
• pressure
• spook
• bogart
• compel
• force
• disturb
• bluster
• menace
• unnerve
• alarm
• constrain
• demoralize
• affright
• bludgeon
• oblige
• hound
• trash-talk
• upset
• perturb
• disconcert
• distress
• push around
• press
• unman
• dragoon
• disquiet
• make
• psych (out)
• discompose

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassure
• soothe
• cheer
• encourage
• comfort
• console
• steel
• persuade
• convince
• embolden
• solace
• hearten

intimidating

2 of 3

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

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

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

Recent Examples of intimidate

Verb

Kurt Lathrop, a 63-year-old electrical engineer of Cobb County, said one of his biggest fears is the prospect of ICE agents appearing at polling locations and intimidating voters. —Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 7 May 2026

Township attorneys and consultants had warned that a denial could trigger a lawsuit—an outcome Marion said felt intimidating. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 6 May 2026

Adjective

If a flip-flop is your go-to, consider these for a less intimidating pick in keeping with your personal style. —ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026

From the scholarly and enlightened to the tough and intimidating, people of all walks of life and cultural backgrounds love a good, thick face of hair. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026

Verb

Braunohler said that long flights can be intimidating at any age – especially for those traveling with kids – but that travelers shouldn’t shy away. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 6 May 2026

Adults planning to return to school may find such a return exciting but also a little bit intimidating. —Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026