Definition of intimidatenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word intimidate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of intimidate are browbeat, bulldoze, bully, and cow. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

When is browbeat a more appropriate choice than intimidate?

The meanings of browbeat and intimidate largely overlap; however, browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

When would bulldoze be a good substitute for intimidate?

The words bulldoze and intimidate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When is it sensible to use bully instead of intimidate?

The synonyms bully and intimidate are sometimes interchangeable, but bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

Where would cow be a reasonable alternative to intimidate?

While in some cases nearly identical to intimidate, cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of intimidate Swift was mercilessly dragged into court proceedings when Baldoni accused Lively of leveraging Swift to intimidate him during the shoot. Marc Malkin, Variety, 2 July 2026 The masks are often vibrant and colorful but sometimes intimidating, depicting superheroes, animals or other symbolic figures. ABC News, 1 July 2026 Her attorneys contend the defendants used the litigation to portray her as dishonest, intimidate potential witnesses, fuel a public relations campaign against her and drive up the cost of her legal defense. Adam Reiss, NBC news, 30 June 2026 During the interaction, the dog was ordered to intimidate or possibly attack our crew. Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for intimidate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidate
Verb
  • This was a rabid, partisan home-soil advantage that flat-out bullied the squad into surviving.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • They got bullied in that one, showing a tremendous lack of physicality.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • At the time of writing, as the Marine Traffic map shows, tanker traffic is barely moving through the Strait, and many ships, unable to obtain insurance or with their owners frightened at the level of risk involved, are refusing to advance.
    Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • But because the president has frightened Congress, Congress doesn’t raise its voice when the president puts his Albert Speer–like building project, or intends to, on Congress’s land.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • There was one American flag sign lit, with some storefront decor gleaming red, white and blue, but the heat seemingly scared most away from celebrating July 4 before Saturday's big day.
    Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Johnson says Monday was her first time on the Wild Mouse attraction; however, the experience did not scare her away from the park.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Weger later insisted he had been coerced into making the confession.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • The decentralized group, created by 15-year-old Bradley Chance Cadenhead in Stephenville, targets children through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to coerce them into self-harm and sharing explicit content.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The mobile phone alert startled many across the city-state of Dubai, the first such alert since the interim ceasefire.
    Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Lansley said she has been startled by how chatbots can appear to display emotional intelligence.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • His process of doing so involved disparaging his accusers, browbeating people and institutions that no longer wanted to be associated with him, and refusing to accept a path that precluded a return to being a public figure.
    Elizabeth Spiers, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But that bar was browbeaten by critics into pausing and then canceling the project.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Intimidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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