Synonyms of intimidate

intimidate 1 of 3

verb (1)

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
• terrify
• pick on
• terrorize
• hector
• horrify
• bullyrag
• pressure
• spook
• bogart
• compel
• force
• blackjack
• disturb
• bluster
• menace
• unnerve
• alarm
• constrain
• demoralize
• affright
• bludgeon
• oblige
• hound
• trash-talk
• upset
• perturb
• disconcert
• distress
• push around
• press
• dragoon
• make
• disquiet
• alarum
• psych (out)
• discompose
• unman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

intimidating

2 of 3

adjective

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
• forbidding
• creepy
• startling
• eerie
• fearsome
• threatening
• trying
• dreadful
• daunting
• frightful
• troubling
• ghastly
• disturbing
• redoubtable
• discouraging
• gruesome
• eery
• 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
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• calming
• soothing
• inviting
• tranquilizing
• consoling
• quieting
• nonthreatening
• lulling
• tranquillizing
• 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
• stark
• lowering
• dour
• austere
• hardened
• cold
• dark
• stubborn
• steely
• flinty
• somber
• ungentle
• unfriendly
• black
• louring
• inhospitable
• determined
• stiff
• moody
• solemn
• inimical
• unsympathetic
• adamant
• purposeful
• uncompromising
• resolute
• unflinching
• bound
• rigid
• serious
• steadfast
• obstinate
• unrelenting
• implacable
• hard
• intent
• wilful
• resolved
• willful
• immovable
• inflexible
• obdurate
• unyielding
• surly
• unbending
• firm
• fixed
• sullen
• sulky
• unsmiling
• hardheaded
• gloomy
• morose
• immutable
• unchangeable
• brooding
• joyless
• cheerless
• sombre
• humorless
• melancholy
• 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 frightening

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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