Intimidate means to frighten or make someone feel afraid, usually through the use of threats, aggressive behavior, or a show of strength. It involves causing someone to feel weak, scared, or less confident, often as a way to control or manipulate them. Intimidation can be psychological (through words or actions) or physical (through threatening gestures or actions). In Indonesian, intimidate can be translated as “mengintimidasi.”
Some synonyms for intimidate include: frighten, threaten, scare, terrify, bully, deter, daunt, subdue, alarm, and coerce.
Example Sentences Using Intimidate:
- The bully tried to intimidate the younger students by making threats.
- Her stern gaze seemed to intimidate the interviewees, making them nervous.
- The large size of the dog intimidated the delivery man, who hesitated to approach.
- He attempted to intimidate his coworkers into agreeing with his opinion by raising his voice.
- The dark alley seemed to intimidate anyone who had to walk through it at night.
- The manager’s intimidating demeanor made it hard for the team to voice their concerns.
- His loud and aggressive tone was meant to intimidate anyone who challenged his authority.
- The idea of public speaking intimidated her, making her feel anxious and unsure.
- The prospect of a long and difficult exam intimidated many students.
- She didn’t let the tough questions intimidate her; instead, she answered them confidently.
Related Words:
- Frighten
- Scare
- Bully
- Daunt
- Threaten
- Coerce
- Subdue
- Terrify
- Deter
- Alarm
Phrasal Verbs Related to Intimidate:
- Tear down (to break down someone’s confidence or intimidate them emotionally)
- Talk down to (to speak to someone in a condescending way, which can intimidate them)
- Push around (to bully or intimidate someone by exerting dominance or control)
- Stand over (to physically or figuratively intimidate someone by hovering or looming over them)
- Throw weight around (to use one’s power or influence to intimidate others)
Idiomatic Expressions Related to Intimidate:
- Throw one’s weight around (to use authority or influence in a way that intimidates others)
- Get under someone’s skin (to make someone feel uncomfortable or intimidated, often by provoking them)
- Put the fear of God into someone (to intimidate or frighten someone severely)
- Bark up the wrong tree (to make a threat or intimidate someone in the wrong way, leading to a negative reaction)
- Pull rank (to use higher status to intimidate or assert control over others)
Intimidation is often used to control or manipulate others, whether in personal relationships, professional environments, or even in social settings. While it can have a temporary effect, it usually creates negative feelings and may cause harm to the individual being intimidated. In many cases, intimidation is seen as a form of bullying or coercion, rather than a healthy form of influence or persuasion.
