intimidating
adjective
in·tim·i·dat·ing
in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tiŋ 
: causing a loss of courage or self-confidence : producing feelings of fear or timidity
an intimidating snarl
a boss with a very intimidating manner
The Red Army athletes were the most intimidating of competitors.—
Ian Thomsen
Ian ThomsenFirst jobs are intimidating for everyone, but few people have to cope with the stresses of the workplace at such a tender age as ballet dancers do.—Daphne Hurford
Daphne Hurford
intimidatingly
adverb
The ship was eerily, intimidatingly empty …
—Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain
… according to the architect Richard Rogers, [Daniel] Libeskind's work isn't just formally arresting—it is intimidatingly smart.
—Jason Cowley
Jason Cowley
Examples of intimidating in a Sentence
the school's seniors faced the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams
an intimidating bodyguard keeping the fans away from the pop star
Recent Examples on the Web
Developers have to find a balance between not making the game too intimidating for newcomers to the series, whilst still posing a challenge for players who’ve grown used to the mechanics and winning strategies for 20 years or more.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Even for someone who isn’t a color enthusiast (like myself) there are subtle colors to invest into and a plethora of inspirations on how to style them in a less intimidating way.
—Libby Page, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
In person, Ghostface Killah isn’t as intimidating as his name suggests.
—Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 24 Feb. 2025
With Arsenal losing at home against West Ham on Saturday, Liverpool had the chance to make their lead at the top of the table even more intimidating.
—Sam Lee, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
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Barry Collins, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Even for someone who isn’t a color enthusiast (like myself) there are subtle colors to invest into and a plethora of inspirations on how to style them in a less intimidating way.
—Libby Page, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
In person, Ghostface Killah isn’t as intimidating as his name suggests.
—Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 24 Feb. 2025
With Arsenal losing at home against West Ham on Saturday, Liverpool had the chance to make their lead at the top of the table even more intimidating.
—Sam Lee, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimidating. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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