intimidating

adjective

in·​tim·​i·​dat·​ing in-ˈti-mə-ˌdā-tiŋ 

: causing a loss of courage or self-confidence : producing feelings of fear or timidity

an intimidating snarl

a boss with a very intimidating manner

The Red Army athletes were the most intimidating of competitors.

—Ian Thomsen

First jobs are intimidating for everyone, but few people have to cope with the stresses of the workplace at such a tender age as ballet dancers do.

—Daphne Hurford

intimidatingly adverb

The ship was eerily, intimidatingly empty …

—Anthony Bourdain

… according to the architect Richard Rogers, [Daniel] Libeskind's work isn't just formally arresting—it is intimidatingly smart.

—Jason Cowley

Synonyms of intimidating

• terrifying
• frightening
• formidable
• scary
• horrible
• terrible

Examples of intimidating in a Sentence

the school's seniors faced the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams

an intimidating bodyguard keeping the fans away from the pop star

Recent Examples on the Web

If a flip-flop is your go-to, consider these for a less intimidating pick in keeping with your personal style. —ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026

From the scholarly and enlightened to the tough and intimidating, people of all walks of life and cultural backgrounds love a good, thick face of hair. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026

Castle Rock is betting that one roof, one brand, and one patient path can feel less intimidating than a set of clinics talking past each other. —Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026

Nelson believes Arndt can be an intimidating presence on the mound, adding to his effectiveness. —Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intimidating

• accelerating
• accentuating
• accommodating
• accumulating
• adjudicating
• administrating
• affiliating
• agglutinating
• alienating
• alleviating
• amalgamating
• ameliorating