intimidate

To intimidate someone is to cause that person to feel nervousness, fear, or concern. The source of the intimidation can be a person or a thing.

This first set of examples uses the word "intimidate" as a verb:

• The older boy intimidated the younger boy so much that he left the playground.
• The priest intimidates some members of his congregation when he questions their behavior.
• Are you trying to intimidate me?
• Tim says the weight room and the exercise machines intimidate him.
• She was intimidated by all the rich and famous people at the party. (This sentence uses the passive voice.)
• She was so intimidated by the assignment that she couldn’t even begin working on it.
• Hazel is intimidated by new technology.
• Are you intimidated by someone who speaks English really well?
• He’s intimidating other drivers by tailgating them.

He intimidates other drivers.

The words "intimidating" and "intimidated" can be used as adjectives:

• Juan finds art galleries to be intimidating.
• Our supervisor is a very intimidating person.
• Our teacher is a little intimidating.
• Hazel finds new technology to be intimidating.

• I feel intimidated.
• An intimidated class full of young students refused to ask the teacher any questions.
• She felt so intimidated by the government that she stopped using her email.

The word "intimidation" is a noun:

• Intimidation from other employees caused Gabriel to quit his job.
• Terry refused to give in to the intimidation she felt coming from her boss.
• Showing his gun inside the bar was considered an act of intimidation and he was promptly arrested.
• The company used intimidation and fear to get more work out of their employees.

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