Synonyms

intimidate

American

[in-tim-i-deyt] / ɪnˈtɪm ɪˌdeɪt /

verb (used with object)

intimidated, intimidating

to make timid; fill with fear.

Synonyms:

terrify, daunt, subdue, frighten

Antonyms:

calm
to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.
to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear.

to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.

Antonyms:

encourage

intimidate British

/ ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt /

verb

to make timid or frightened; scare
to discourage, restrain, or silence illegally or unscrupulously, as by threats or blackmail

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See discourage.

Other Word Forms

intimidating adjective
intimidation noun
intimidator noun
intimidatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of intimidate

First recorded in 1640–50; from Medieval Latin intimidātus, past participle of intimidāre “to make afraid,” equivalent to Latin in- verb-formative prefix + timid(us) “afraid” + -ātus past participle suffix; in- ², timid, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called the fine a "pathetic attempt to intimidate workers".

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

In one case, police detained a pro-royalist supporter, Durga Prasai, for social media posts allegedly meant to intimidate potential voters.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

We have introduced the Transnational Repression Policy Act, which would establish a clear U.S. strategy to hold accountable foreign governments and their agents who intimidate or harm people in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Klausner also ruled that some of the actions that Seitz’s attorneys argued were meant to intimidate him instead appeared to be “routine law enforcement interactions.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The days when she could physically intimidate me were clearly over.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023