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
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Recent Examples of intimidating
Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Crews were working on a road repair when the man allegedly verbally threatened them and drove his vehicle toward them in an intimidating manner.
—T. Michelle Murphy, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2024
Anne Sugar, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Decorating for different seasons can be intimidating and feel wasteful if the decor is only appropriate for a certain time of year.
—Kelsey Fredricks, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intimidating 
Adjective
Vampire squid generally max out at a foot long — not exactly an intimidating size.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Crews were working on a road repair when the man allegedly verbally threatened them and drove his vehicle toward them in an intimidating manner.
—T. Michelle Murphy, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2024
Verb
Shore up your emotional health If this colleague uses intimidating or bullying tactics, work anxiety can creep into every area of your life.
—Anne Sugar, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Decorating for different seasons can be intimidating and feel wasteful if the decor is only appropriate for a certain time of year.
—Kelsey Fredricks, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intimidating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidating
Adjective
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Winters — who was so terrifying in Heroes of the Fourth Turning and who revealed a messy vulnerability behind Kerry Castellabate’s hard bangs and structured suits on Succession — is a pro at tough, slick surfaces with tangles of insecurity underneath.Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
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Perusing the store’s shelves, there’s the usual lineup of Route 66 merch alongside a host of shirts bearing new and terrifying puns.Dan Sheehan, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The dynamic between Callum and tracker Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), meanwhile, is your classic buddy-cop back-and-forth, with the gruff Callum slowly warming to the disreputable criminal he’s forced to partner up with when Santa gets kidnapped two days before Christmas.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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Keaton dove into the part, adjusting his posture and affecting a gruff voice with a hint of New York–ese.Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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For example, people often dodge screenings and diagnostic tests to avoid the frightening possibility of discovering cancer.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Demi Moore is sharing scary photos of a frightening side of her character in the body horror movie The Substance.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Competition is fierce:Phoenix progressives want their City Council seat back Who is running for Phoenix District 5? Maryvale-area residents will choose between incumbent Councilwoman Betty Guardado and challenger JJ Martinez in District 5.Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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Oz went on to lose to now-Sen. John Fetterman, D. Pennsylvania is home to fierce and competitive presidential-level fighting and the Senate race is no different.Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Features with children at the core – usually included in the festival’s Just Film section dedicated to children and youth – are also part of the official selection through stories of bullying at school and children’s rights, among others.Annika Pham, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024
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This approach helps children understand that real empowerment comes from positive actions towards others, not from bullying.Mark Travers, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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While Malloy's candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders' decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator's enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Saudi Arabia and the UAE could collaborate, turning the Gulf region into a formidable hydrogen production and export hub.Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And in Pennsylvania the Philadelphia district attorney issued a stern warning.Luke Barr, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
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Where once there was stern, pensive faces, now there were smiles, heads tilted back.Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Remember to ask questions to get a clear understanding of your partners’ personal views, and try your best not to shy away from the scarier aspects of the discussions—such as death or afterlife.Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Beyoncé knows what the real scariest day of the year is.Michael Savio, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near intimidating
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidating. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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