intimidate

verb

in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt How to pronounce intimidate (audio)
Definition of intimidatenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of intimidate Neither their rangers nor their exhibits should be intimidated into parroting a sanitized and distorted version of the nation’s past. —John Lawrence, Twin Cities, 18 July 2025 But, understandably, non-natives often find hurricane season intimidating. —Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2025 Huffaker, along with fellow officer Brendan Jacy Tatum, targeted drivers with large amounts of marijuana, pretending to be ATF agents to intimidate them, according to federal court filings. —Miami Herald, 14 July 2025 But moving from being a casual fan into understanding the intricacies of tennis can be intimidating. —Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for intimidate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidate
  1. bully
  2. frighten
  3. scare
  4. coerce
  5. startle
  6. browbeat
Verb
  • During his childhood, he was isolated and bullied and eventually became addicted to heroin and struggled with his weight.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 20 July 2025
  • Edmondson bullied Lapin the entire round and the Ukrainian looked gas.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Definition of bully
Verb
  • Stink bugs tend to drop when frightened, so fill a cup with soapy water and hold it under the stink bug.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
  • What starts as a simple favor to keep her great-niece turns into a wild Halloween night filled with jump scares and pranks — but as usual, nothing frightens her more than bad manners and disrespect. Boo 2!
    — Jane LaCroix, People.com, 13 July 2025
Definition of frighten
Verb
  • There’s a thread of carbolic soap, though not enough to scare away those even moderately familiar with smoky Islay Scotch.
    — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • Officials used horns, sirens and lights to scare the dogs away from Culbertson, according to KC Pet Project documents obtained by The Star.
    — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2025
Definition of scare
Verb
  • Witnesses testified about whether the original detective and prosecutor in his case had coerced them into testifying against Bell at his 1995 trial.
    — The Marshall Project, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
  • The school board responded that the materials did no more than expose the children to new ideas, and that in any case nobody was being coerced.
    — Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 8 July 2025
Definition of coerce
Verb
  • Many dogs and other pets were startled by the noise and ran away, shelter officials said, and good Samaritans found them and brought them to shelters.
    — Marcus D. Smith July 7, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
  • On June 2, the heart of Sicily—Mount Etna—experienced a volcanic eruption that startled tourists, summoned emergency alerts, and shot lava and ash high into the sky.
    — Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 4 June 2025
Definition of startle
Verb
  • But in the end, Trump was able to browbeat Republicans into supporting his costly plans to fund long-term tax cuts for the wealthy, more deportations of immigrants and boosting defense spending.
    — Brian Bennett, Time, 3 July 2025
  • On monetary policy and interest rates, the administration has displayed both a bizarre propensity to browbeat its own government officials and a complete lack of economic understanding.
    — Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Definition of browbeat

Browse Nearby Words

in time
intimidate
intimidated
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Cite this Entry

“Intimidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidate. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of intimidate for Spanish Speakers

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