intimidate

UK: /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/ US: /ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt/ ,(in tim′i dāt′)

Inflections of 'intimidate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

intimidates

v 3rd person singular

intimidating

v pres p

intimidated

v past

intimidated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tim•i•date /ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -dat•ed, -dat•ing. 

1. to make timid; fill with fear:
   The bullies intimidated the new kids at school.
2. to cause a feeling of great awe in (someone):
   was not intimidated by the huge room where she had to give her speech.
3. to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear:
   [~ + object + into + verb-ing] to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.

in•tim•i•da•tion /ɪnˌtɪmɪˈdeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tim•i•date  (in tim′i dāt′), v.t., -dat•ed, -dat•ing. 

1. to make timid; fill with fear.
2. to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.
3. to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear:
   to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.

• Medieval Latin intimidātus, past participle of intimidāre to make afraid, equivalent. to Latin in- in-² + timid(us) timid, afraid + -ātus -ate¹
• 1640–50

in•tim′i•da′tion, n. 
in•tim′i•da′tor, n. 
in•tim•i•da•to•ry  (in tim′i də tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  Synonyms

• 1. frighten, subdue, daunt, terrify. See discourage. 

Antonyms

• 1. calm.
• 3. encourage.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intimidate / ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt/ verb (transitive)

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

Etymology: 17th Century: from Medieval Latin intimidāre, from Latin in-² + timidus fearful, from timor fear

inˈtimiˌdating adjective

inˌtimiˈdation noun

inˈtimiˌdator noun