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
Ian ThomsenFirst 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
Daphne Hurford
intimidatingly
adverb
The ship was eerily, intimidatingly empty …
—Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain
… according to the architect Richard Rogers, [Daniel] Libeskind's work isn't just formally arresting—it is intimidatingly smart.
—Jason Cowley
Jason Cowley
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
Hristo Stoichkov played with an intimidating edge that could both win games and cross an unforgivable line.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Judith Collins, the committee chair, said the lawmakers’ behavior was egregious, disruptive, and potentially intimidating.
—Charlotte Graham-McLay, Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2025
And for users who are new to the space, the idea of trusting totally unknown algorithms can feel more intimidating than empowering.
—Charles Wayn, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
That was the most intimidating part of the process for me.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
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Simon Hughes, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Judith Collins, the committee chair, said the lawmakers’ behavior was egregious, disruptive, and potentially intimidating.
—Charlotte Graham-McLay, Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2025
And for users who are new to the space, the idea of trusting totally unknown algorithms can feel more intimidating than empowering.
—Charles Wayn, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
That was the most intimidating part of the process for me.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimidating
Cite this Entry
“Intimidating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimidating. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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