Word
intimidate
Phoneticsin·tim·i·date, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt/
UK/ɪntˈɪmɪdˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to make someone feel frightened or nervous so that they do what you want. It often happens when someone seems more powerful or talented than you.
v. to frighten or overawe someone, especially in order to influence their behaviour or compel them to perform an action. Often involves a perceived imbalance of power or skill.
Examples
“The big dog tries to intimidate the smaller cats.”
“The lawyer tried to intimidate the witness by asking aggressive questions in a loud voice.”
“The sheer scale of the corporate headquarters was designed to intimidate visitors, reinforcing the company's dominance in the global market through imposing architecture.”
Examples
simple
“The big dog tries to intimidate the smaller cats.”
contextual
“The lawyer tried to intimidate the witness by asking aggressive questions in a loud voice.”
complex
“The sheer scale of the corporate headquarters was designed to intimidate visitors, reinforcing the company's dominance in the global market through imposing architecture.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Pitfall
He felt intimidated of the boss.
He felt intimidated by the boss.
When expressing the cause of the fear, use the preposition 'by' or 'with', not 'of'.
Real-World Examples
“But taken together, the rammings, fires and arrests have created a powerful sense that violence is being used to intimidate, punish and send messages.” “Huckabee posted a video of a convoy of Israeli military and police vehicles, saying they were removing “illegal trespassers there to intimidate Palestinian residents”.” Etymology
From Medieval Latin intimidātus, perfect passive participle of Latin intimidō (“to intimidate, terrify”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + timidus (“afraid, timid”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix); see timid.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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