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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intimidating
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Hussain has a friendly, reassuring presence, making the already-simple recipes even less intimidating.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025
Mark Cohen, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
Come to find, that spiral horn isn’t merely decorative, but doubles as a gnarly weapon, with which these two larger and far more intimidating-looking unicorns impale their prey.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Adjective
Despite their intimidating size, elephant birds were likely herbivores, browsing on fruits, leaves, and low-lying plants.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Hussain has a friendly, reassuring presence, making the already-simple recipes even less intimidating.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
Bay Area news outlets have reported dozens of Jewish families transferring their children out of Oakland’s public schools because of the intimidating, antisemitic school environment.
—Mark Cohen, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
Come to find, that spiral horn isn’t merely decorative, but doubles as a gnarly weapon, with which these two larger and far more intimidating-looking unicorns impale their prey.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidating
Adjective
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May has been equally terrifying for Ukrainian civilians.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
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As the mysterious contract killer Vincent, Cruise brings his usual on-screen qualities — strict professionalism, precise physicality, ruthless persistence — but turns them on their head to embody a terrifying, amoral murderer.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor From 2014-2017, a gruff and action-ready Peter Capaldi shredded an electric guitar through the TARDIS.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2025
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Over a four-decade career that began with a role on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Lyonne has become known for portraying characters that are gruff but likable, hard-nosed but sympathetic.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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The ensuing action is gory and frightening — and even Wong got a little spooked by Hawkins.—
Eric Andersson,
People.com,
31 May 2025
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This is incredibly damaging to career prospects and, given how little knowledge exists in mainstream medical and occupational health circles, can feel confusing and frightening for those who don’t know where to turn for advice.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Caron was used to seeing my fiery side, the fierce competitor, the demanding coach.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
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The feedback was fierce—storyboards dismantled, ideas shredded—but the environment was psychologically safe.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Instead, there was a fast, tough, physical team flying around and making big-time plays, bullying the big-boy Tar Heels.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
30 Dec. 2024
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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
Adjective
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Everything points to the fact that Karolína’s exceptional talent has caught the attention of the formidable and much admired choirmaster.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
3 June 2025
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Sinha’s strategic interventions have substantially scaled up businesses, powering a formidable sales pipeline by assisting the company in landing enterprise-level engagements.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The flybridge has a reverse radar arch that prompts a double take, while the remainder of the exterior focuses on open space (case in point, the foredeck), along with the beautiful design of the cockpit and stern area.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
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The 5,000-ton-class destroyer was damaged Wednesday when a transport cradle on the ship’s stern detached early during a launch ceremony attended by Kim at the northeastern port of Chongjin.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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But Game 3 of the Western Conference final was a scary reminder that McDavid has another side to his offensive arsenal.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
26 May 2025
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Unlike Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, this world is more foreboding than scary, but as guests quickly learn from its can’t-miss attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, monsters still shouldn’t be crossed.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidating. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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