INTIMIDATE Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

intimidate

verb

in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt

Definition of intimidate

as in to bully

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

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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 Many of the weapons used to intimidate Mexican police and soldiers originate in the United States. — Chris Shays, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026 Rather than prescribing rigid programs or focusing solely on physical health, the resort blends science with ancient wisdom, movement, nutrition, nature, and human connection to create experiences that feel individualized rather than intimidating. — Gabby Shacknai, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 His defense claims the color — which supporters wear to honor Brooks — could bias or intimidate the jury. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The explosion followed Saturday's deadly bombing at an upscale Moscow restaurant, which the Russian Embassy in Rome blamed on Ukraine, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the Italian community in Russia. — CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intimidate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimidate

Verb

For over two years, a 16-year-old transgender girl says she was bullied, excluded and discriminated against by her teammates and coaches at the Capital Crew youth rowing program housed at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
These numbers do not mean every disagreement counts as bullying.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of bully

Verb

Diego Gomez is a stop-gap alternative, but Mitoma remains a key figure who frightens opposing defences with his dribbling speed and influential record in the top flight.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
But what frightened me most was not death alone, but the idea of dying before my writings reached the world—that my story would disappear with me, and that my feelings, my memories, my identity, and my human experience would be erased.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of frighten

Verb

Group members will often blackmail victims by threatening to make swatting calls at their home address and have also been known to coerce minors into placing swatting calls themselves.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Jawad Boulos, who was Sarsour's lawyer when he was charged in Israel decades ago, testified that Sarsour was tortured in Israeli custody and coerced into making confessions.

— CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of coerce

Verb

The 10-episode first season (critics received six for review) opens in the early hours of the morning, when Anna is startled awake by a phone call.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Witness Hoon Chan Sim, 53, was sitting on a park lawn with his dog near West Drive when he was startled by the squeal of braking tires, and spun around to see the horrific collision.

— Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026

Definition of startle

Verb

Dodgers management didn’t browbeat Treinen and Call, and that’s fine — ballplayers should be entitled to share their personal thoughts, however noxious.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
No need to legally browbeat AI makers or require AI developers to implement specialized AI safety features.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of browbeat

Browse Nearby Words

in time

intimidate

intimidated

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“Intimidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidate. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of intimidate

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