verb
Uncommon
intimidate
ihn-TIH-mih-dayt
Intimidate (verb) means to frighten or pressure someone, often through threats, so they do what you want. Example: “The gang tried to intimidate witnesses into staying silent.”
verb
1
To frighten or pressure someone, often through threats, so they do what you want.
"The gang tried to intimidate witnesses into staying silent."
"Her confidence alone was enough to intimidate the competition."
How to use intimidate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make someone feel scared or nervous, often on purpose.
Common pairings
try to intimidate
intimidate a witness
intimidate someone into doing something
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- intimidates
- Past tense
- intimidated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The gang tried to _____ witnesses into staying silent.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin intimidare, from in- ("into") plus timidus ("afraid" or "timid").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for intimidate
See all rhymes for intimidate →Frequently asked questions
What does “intimidate” mean?
The word “intimidate” means to frighten or pressure someone, often through threats, so they do what you want. In plain terms, to make someone feel scared or nervous, often on purpose.
How do you pronounce “intimidate”?
“Intimidate” is pronounced ihn-TIH-mih-dayt (/ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “intimidate” in a sentence?
Here is “intimidate” used in a sentence: “The gang tried to intimidate witnesses into staying silent.”
What part of speech is “intimidate”?
“Intimidate” is a verb.
Where does the word “intimidate” come from?
The word “intimidate” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin intimidare, from in- ("into") plus timidus ("afraid" or "timid").
Is “intimidate” a common word?
“Intimidate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
