intimidate
gb/ɪntˈɪmɪdˌeɪt/ us/ɪntˈɪmɪdˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 7700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
Frighten or threaten to control
to make someone feel very afraid or weak so that they do what you want or stay quiet
Usage pattern:
to intimidate [someone] into [doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners often write *"intimidate someone to do something"* instead of the correct pattern *"intimidate someone into doing something"*. Another mistake is using *intimidate* for the feeling itself (e.g. *"I intimidate in meetings"*), but the verb means to CAUSE fear in someone else, not to feel it yourself.
Synonyms
bully (Emphasizes repeated, aggressive behavior toward weaker people, often not only through fear but also humiliation.)
|
threaten (Focuses on saying or showing that you will cause harm; not always about making someone feel small or powerless.)
|
coerce (More formal; stresses forcing someone to do something, often through pressure or threats, not necessarily fear alone.)
|
terrorize (Stronger; suggests causing extreme fear over a period of time, often with violence.)
Antonyms
reassure (You calm someone and remove fear instead of using fear to control them.)
|
encourage (You give someone confidence to act, rather than stopping or controlling them through fear.)
Collocations
intimidate witnesses
|intimidate voters
|attempt to intimidate
|use violence to intimidate
|intimidate rivals
|intimidate employees
Themes
power
|crime
|emotions
|relationships
|communication
|law
Examples
- The gang tried to intimidate local shop owners into paying for “protection.”
- Protesters claimed the police were sent to intimidate them into leaving the square.
- The company was accused of intimidating workers who wanted to form a union.
- He used his position of power to intimidate critics and silence opposition.
- Witnesses said they felt intimidated by men who followed them and warned them not to testify.
Learner examples
- The big boys tried to intimidate the younger students.
- The manager cannot intimidate you into working extra hours for free.
- Some leaders intimidate people so they do not ask questions.
- They tried to intimidate her, but she spoke out anyway.
Verb
B2
action
2
Make someone feel less confident
to make someone feel small, shy, or not confident because you or something else seem very strong or serious
Usage pattern:
to intimidate [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix up who is scared and who causes fear, saying things like *"I intimidate in big groups"* when they mean *"I feel intimidated in big groups"*. Remember: *intimidate* is usually about making OTHER people feel nervous or less confident.
Synonyms
daunt (Often used for tasks or situations that seem too difficult or big and make someone lose confidence.)
|
unnerve (Focuses on making someone feel anxious or shaky, not always clearly about power or status.)
|
overawe (You impress or overwhelm someone so much that they feel too shy or small to act normally.)
Antonyms
encourage (You help someone feel brave and confident instead of nervous and small.)
|
comfort (You reduce a person’s anxiety instead of increasing it.)
Collocations
feel intimidated
|easily intimidated
|intimidate new students
|intimidate first-time visitors
|intimidate me
|intimidate younger players
Themes
emotions
|social
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The size of the audience intimidated her, and she forgot her first line.
- New employees are often intimidated by the company’s complex systems.
- He has a very direct style that can intimidate people who don’t know him well.
- The long list of requirements intimidated many potential applicants.
- Don’t let his serious face intimidate you; he’s actually very friendly.
Learner examples
- Speaking English in public still intimidates me.
- The big, busy city can intimidate visitors from small towns.
- Her strong voice intimidated the children at first.
- Try not to intimidate him during the interview.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intimidate
IPA
GB/ɪntˈɪmɪdˌeɪt/
US/ɪntˈɪmɪdˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
in - tim - id - ate (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tim)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: intimidate
- 3rd Person Singular: intimidates
- Present Participle: intimidating
- Past: intimidated
Word family
Forms
intimidates
verb
intimidating
verb
intimidated
verb
Core family
intimidation
noun B2
Related words
intimidatingly
adverb
intimidator
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unintimidated
adjective
unintimidating
adjective
Advanced or less common
intimidatory
adjective
Expressions
be intimidated by [someone/something]
1/bˈi ɪntˈɪmɪdˌeɪtɪd bˈaɪ sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Feel nervous or shy because of
to feel afraid, shy, or not confident because someone or something seems very strong, important, or difficult
Examples
- Many students are intimidated by the idea of speaking in front of the class.
- Don’t be intimidated by his title; he is very easy to talk to.
- She was initially intimidated by the advanced technology in the lab.
intimidate into [doing something]
1/ɪntˈɪmɪdˌeɪt ˈɪntu dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Force someone to act using fear
to make someone do something because they are afraid of what will happen if they say no
Examples
- They tried to intimidate her into signing the contract.
- Voters should not be intimidated into staying home on election day.
- He refused to be intimidated into changing his story.