intimidate
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- blackjack
- bogart
- browbeat
- bulldoze
- bully
- bullyrag
- cow
- hector
- strong-arm
Example Sentences
Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022 Because Chowdhurie and her husband had remodeled two previous homes, this project did not intimidate them. Kathy Orton, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 Reemerging at this time could intimidate an artist. Brooklyn White, Essence, 29 July 2022 Who is attempting to intimidate the witnesses, as Congresswoman Cheney said? CBS News, 3 July 2022 Though nonviolent in nature, conservatives have painted them as an effort to intimidate the justices, especially after Alito’s draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization leaked to Politico last month. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 14 June 2022 As waves of police from departments across Texas converge on Uvalde, officers have continued to intimidate, harass and impede journalists covering the aftermath of the second-deadliest K-12 school shooting ever in the United States. Brian Chasnoff, San Antonio Express-News, 6 June 2022 Their supporters have used threats and attacks to intimidate the independent candidates and their backers, according to unverified social media footage. Nazih Osseiran, WSJ, 15 May 2022 The second bill would double the penalty under federal law for individuals who threaten or intimidate election officials, poll watchers, voters or candidates from one year to two years. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Medieval Latin intimidatus, past participle of intimidare, from Latin in- + timidus timid
1646, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
intimidate
verb
Legal Definition
intimidate
transitive verb
intimidate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- bully
- frighten
- scare
- coerce
- startle
- browbeat
- harass
- threaten
- bulldoze
- hector
- shock
- strong-arm
- badger
- terrify
- bogart
- cow
- terrorize
- pick on
- pressure
- horrify
- blackjack
- bullyrag
- force
- spook
- compel
- unnerve
- bluster
- disturb
- alarm
- menace
- bludgeon
- demoralize
- affright
- constrain
- hound
- oblige
- trash-talk
- upset
- disconcert
- perturb
- press
- distress
- unman
- push around
- dragoon
- disquiet
- make
- discompose
- alarum
- psych (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reassure
- soothe
- encourage
- cheer
- comfort
- persuade
- convince
- console
- steel
- embolden
- solace
- hearten
Synonym Chooser
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.
The meanings of browbeat and intimidate largely overlap; however, browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.
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.
The synonyms bully and intimidate are sometimes interchangeable, but bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.
While in some cases nearly identical to intimidate, cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.
- get round (to)
- get round to
- get round to (something)
- get round to something
- get scared
- get shot of
- get smart with
- get some sun
- get someone good
- get someone noticed
- get someone or something wrong
- get someone out of
- get someone out of something
- get someone out of trouble
- get someone wrong
- get someone's attention
- get someone's dander up
- get someone's drift
- get someone's goat
- get someone's measure
- get something off one's chest
- get something out of
- get something out of something or someone
- get something over with
- get something right