as in bullies
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
refusing to be intimidated by the manager's harsh stare, I demanded my money back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 intimidates
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.
—
Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
The aura of the classical guitar intimidates me.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
The case has heightened concerns among Canada’s Iranian diaspora, many of whom have warned for years that Tehran monitors and intimidates critics abroad.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Maybe her coolness intimidates them, or her green eyes.
—Rodrigo Hasbún, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
If French wine intimidates you, this is the perfect place to get over that fear.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Independent groups like Human Rights Watch say the Venezuelan government intimidates human rights advocates, arrests and detains protesters and harasses journalists.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Before his luck runs out, Robert is saved by a very pissed off Blonde Blazer, who intimidates Shroud’s crew with the bluff of backup, or at least killing half the gang.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
The aura of the classical guitar intimidates me.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
The case has heightened concerns among Canada’s Iranian diaspora, many of whom have warned for years that Tehran monitors and intimidates critics abroad.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Maybe her coolness intimidates them, or her green eyes.
—Rodrigo Hasbún, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
If French wine intimidates you, this is the perfect place to get over that fear.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Independent groups like Human Rights Watch say the Venezuelan government intimidates human rights advocates, arrests and detains protesters and harasses journalists.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Before his luck runs out, Robert is saved by a very pissed off Blonde Blazer, who intimidates Shroud’s crew with the bluff of backup, or at least killing half the gang.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidates
Verb
-
The Pledge is meaningless if the president of the United States lies to us, divides us, bullies us and steals from us.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What frightens scientists more than the sheer numbers are that the cuts are arbitrary and manifestly pernicious.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
But the future Hall of Famer is coming off ACL surgery, might lack mobility, and has a receiving corps that frightens nobody.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Even horror shows are written from a place of what scares the author the most, and most sci-fi shows are grounded in human truth.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
-
And Jalen Brunson’s multiple injuries scares thrust Alvarado into key, early minutes.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
The combination of flashing light and movement startles them.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
-
If hypotheticals about what could have been are a good dream for New York Knicks fans, then Mikal Bridges is the alarm clock that startles them awake.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intimidates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidates. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
