intimidate

From Medieval Latin intimidatus, past participle of intimidare (“to make afraid”), from Latin in (“in”) + timidus (“afraid, timid”); see timid.

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

intimidate (third-person singular simple present intimidates, present participle intimidating, simple past and past participle intimidated)

1. (transitive) To make timid or afraid; to cause to feel fear or nervousness; to deter, especially by threats of violence

   He's trying to intimidate you. If you ignore him, hopefully he'll stop.

   Synonym: abash

• See Thesaurus:intimidate

• intimidatingly
• intimidation
• intimidator
• intimidatory
• timid

• intimidate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• intimidate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.