1
as in terrifying
causing fear
the school's seniors faced the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
an intimidating bodyguard keeping the fans away from the pop star
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightening
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of intimidating
Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Starting a business can be daunting at any age, but for those over 50, the thought of embarking on an entrepreneurial journey might feel especially intimidating.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024
Well, doing a guest star role is always intimidating.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intimidating 
Adjective
The bout pits one of the greatest (and most intimidating) fighters of all time against a social media star who only took up boxing in recent years.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Starting a business can be daunting at any age, but for those over 50, the thought of embarking on an entrepreneurial journey might feel especially intimidating.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
No standard-issue heartthrob, Law began his career as a veritable emblem of intimidating, unattainable, sometimes self-sabotaging male beauty.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024
Well, doing a guest star role is always intimidating.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intimidating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidating
Adjective
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Three years later, Dex's death deals a major blow to several key characters on the long-running soap, potentially introduces a terrifying new killer, and leaves behind plenty of questions as to how the series will proceed without him.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzer was awakened to a terrifying sight.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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After a long bout of gruff banter, Frank gets personal, invoking his dead son, Joseph.Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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The actress uncovers enough credibility in the character to withstand the syrupy sports drama’s conventions, offsetting the gruff Eastwoodisms on which the film is built. 19.Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Or maybe the next gen of AI swerves us even deeper into the uncanny valley in yet unknown and frightening ways.Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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In the dark winter months, Krampus associations in villages hold parades, playfully frightening onlookers on Krampusnacht by chasing them and hitting them with sticks during a run through the streets.Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, the outspoken actor highly regarded as one of the industry's fiercest defenders of women.Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
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Enticing notes of lemon confit, citrus blossom and a saline minerality make one yearn for the sea with subtle flavors of nectarine and chamomile tea on the palate with a fierce mineral finish and mouthwatering acidity that is impressive.Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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LeBron James scored 32 points one game after setting the NBA’s all-time minutes record for regular-season games, bullying the Kings on the offensive end while grabbing four steals on the defensive end.Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
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He's been asking people to sign a petition urging Congress to take up legislation to curb bullying nationwide.Becca Longmire, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Today many companies face the formidable challenge of balancing rapid product delivery with uncompromising quality.Wayne Yu, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Following that, there’s time to catch the New Orleans Saints — likely to be without running back Alvin Kamara — at Green Bay Packers for some Love (Jordan, actually) this festive season, or there’s the struggling Anaheim Ducks at the formidable Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL.Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Corenswet is perfect as a younger, less chiseled, less stern version of Superman.Erik Kain, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
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Freeland, on the other hand, has advocated a much tougher approach to Trump, one more in line with the stern response of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And yet what this Dracula radiates — the scariest thing about him — is greater than any of that totalizing power.Wesley Morris, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
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But his warnings of fines were indeed rather scary.Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D., Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near intimidating
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidating. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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