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

Lemon entered a not guilty plea in February, per The New York Times, after facing charges of conspiracy against religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship. —Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026

Most Atlantans are not intimidated by a little congestion or delays on the road, however this isn’t normal traffic. —Beth Collums, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Security agents are still out in force Residents say security forces still have an intimidating presence in Tehran. —Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026

In the near future, keeping tabs on your digestive health may feel far less intimidating. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026

Verb

But despite that growth, more than half of women believed investing was intimidating. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026

General Daily Insight for March 27, 2026 Having fun can make intimidating schedules much easier to handle. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026