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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Recent Examples of intimidating
Sam Lubell, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
Yet until the creation of the new trail, there was no formalized network of hiking paths in the archipelago, making the more remote islands a logistically intimidating place to explore—particularly when temperatures drop.
—Madeline Weinfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 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
Its hulking form and heavy materials — oceans of granite, limestone and concrete — created an intimidating place that stood for strength, power and winning.
—Sam Lubell, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
Yet until the creation of the new trail, there was no formalized network of hiking paths in the archipelago, making the more remote islands a logistically intimidating place to explore—particularly when temperatures drop.
—Madeline Weinfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 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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Learn more › While the roar of the mighty Tyrannosaurs rex in the Jurassic Park film franchise is pretty terrifying, it was actually created by Hollywood special effects wizards using the sounds of a baby elephant.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
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In this show, the most terrifying threat is not any singular person or group, but rather, the monsters inside us.Andrés Buenahora, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The gruff verses in the latter still convey the sense that Shinoda thrives with an alternatingly coarser and softer vocal counterpart.Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
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Jason Isaacs brings gruff humor and gravitas to Doyle’s character, while Haley Joel Osment’s optimistic portrayal of Chet balances the film’s tone.Charlie Fink, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The French Lutin fae can turn malicious if insulted, ruining crops and frightening animals.Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
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Sanders has avoided a serious injury after a frightening incident during last night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Even harder than acting fairly and impartially would be appearing to have done so, in a conflict that stirs fierce passions the world over.Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024
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Mistakes are commonplace in the chaos and horror of a battlefield, yet this openness and candor is rare from troops who a year earlier would have spoken with fierce pride about Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive in Russia’s Kursk region.Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 27 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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Unable to find the individual, Bryan delivered a stern warning instead.Angel Saunders, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
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Montgomery based the story of Anne in part on her own upbringing, after her mother died and her father left her with her stern grandparents in Cavendish on the north shore of the island.Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While this can be scary, none of these should be concerning as all cruise ships are tested in storm-like conditions and the rocking mechanisms are designed to stabilize the ship against rough water.Devika Rao, theweek, 19 Nov. 2024
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Sign up here For me, the scariest part of this discovery is that BFRs have been banned in the U.S. since 2004.Kristin Hostetter, Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near intimidating
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimidating. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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