Intimidating: meaning, definitions and examples

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intimidating

 

[ ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪtɪŋ ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

in a social setting

Causing fear or lack of confidence in others; frightening or threatening.

Synonyms

daunting, menacing, scary, threatening.

Examples of usage

  • His intimidating presence made everyone in the room uneasy.
  • She found his intimidating gaze hard to ignore.
  • The intimidating look on his face made her back away.
Context #2 | Verb

in a competitive environment

To make someone feel frightened or less confident.

Synonyms

bully, menace, threaten.

Examples of usage

  • She was intimidated by the other players' skills.
  • He tried to intimidate his opponents before the match.

Translations

Translations of the word "intimidating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 intimidante

🇮🇳 डरावना

🇩🇪 einschüchternd

🇮🇩 mengintimidasi

🇺🇦 загрозливий

🇵🇱 zastraszający

🇯🇵 威圧的な

🇫🇷 intimidant

🇪🇸 intimidante

🇹🇷 göz korkutucu

🇰🇷 위협적인

🇸🇦 مخيف

🇨🇿 zastrašující

🇸🇰 zastrašujúci

🇨🇳 令人生畏的

🇸🇮 zastrašujoč

🇮🇸 ógnvekjandi

🇰🇿 қорқынышты

🇬🇪 დამაშინებელი

🇦🇿 hədələyici

🇲🇽 intimidante

Etymology

The word 'intimidating' originated from the Latin word 'intimidare', which means 'to make afraid'. The concept of intimidation has been present throughout history, often used as a tactic to instill fear or control over others. In modern society, intimidation can manifest in various forms, from social interactions to competitive environments.

See also: intimidation, intimidator.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,909, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.