intimidate

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“
First off, don't let the "3" in the title intimidate you.

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Definitions (8)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. transitive verb To make timid; fill with fear.
  2. transitive verb To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats.
  3. Syntax Note
    Synonyms: intimidate, browbeat, bulldoze, cow2, bully1, bludgeon
    These verbs all mean to frighten into submission, compliance, or acquiescence. Intimidate implies the presence or operation of a fear-inspiring force: "It [atomic energy] may intimidate the human race into bringing order into its international affairs” (Albert Einstein).
    Browbeat suggests the persistent application of highhanded, disdainful, or imperious tactics: browbeating a witness.
    Bulldoze connotes the leveling of all spirit of opposition: was bulldozed into hiring an unacceptable candidate.
    Cow implies bringing out an abject state of timorousness and often demoralization: a dog that was cowed by abuse.
    To bully is to intimidate through blustering, domineering, or threatening behavior: workers who were bullied into accepting a poor contract.
    Bludgeon suggests the use of grossly aggressive or combative methods: had to be bludgeoned into fulfilling his duties.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (2)

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Examples (50)

  • The purpose of this is to bully, intimidate, and silence critics. don't let it work! —  Think Progress
  • As I have mentioned before, I believe the government has been trying out various ways to scare, intimidate, and expel settlers in Yehudah —  Esser Agaroth
  • Butrick then used the e-mail accounts to send messages in October with the intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse, according to the complaint. —  JSOnline.com
  • Epithets and other language intended to intimidate or to incite violence are also prohibited. —  Intellectual Property Watch
  • Authorities used extreme force and mass arbitrary arrests to target, intimidate, and jail dozens of major and independent journalists all week long. —  Phawker
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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same contextWord Family

intimidate:   intimidating ·  intimidated ·  intimidates
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Medieval Latin intimidāre, intimidāt- : Latin in-, causative pref.; see in-2 + Latin timidus, timid; see timid.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle Latin intimidatus, past participle of intimidare (later Spanish Portuguese intimidar = French intimider), make afraid, from Latin in, in, + timidus, afraid, timid: see timid.
 

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/ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/
by American Heritage

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