Intimidate

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɪməˌdeɪt/

Definitions of intimidate

verb to frighten or threaten someone in order to make them do what you want

Example Sentences

A1 The loud noise from the fireworks can intimidate my dog.

A2 I felt intimidated by the large crowd at the concert.

B1 The aggressive behavior of the opposing team tried to intimidate us during the game.

B2 She refused to be intimidated by the threats of her boss.

C1 The politician used his power to intimidate anyone who opposed him.

C2 Despite attempts to intimidate her, she remained steadfast in her beliefs.

Examples of intimidate in a Sentence

formal The defendant's lawyer attempted to intimidate the witness during the cross-examination.

informal Don't let them intimidate you, stand your ground.

slang Those bullies tried to intimidate me, but I wasn't having it.

figurative The towering skyscrapers seemed to intimidate the small town visitors.

Grammatical Forms of intimidate

• past tense: intimidated
• plural: intimidate
• comparative: more intimidate
• superlative: most intimidate
• present tense: intimidates
• future tense: will intimidate
• perfect tense: has intimidated
• continuous tense: is intimidating
• singular: intimidate
• positive degree: intimidating
• infinitive: to intimidate
• gerund: intimidating
• participle: intimidated

Origin and Evolution of intimidate

First Known Use: 1647 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'intimidate' originated from the Latin word 'intimidatus', which is derived from the verb 'intimido' meaning to make afraid.

Evolution of the word: Initially, 'intimidate' was used in the context of making someone fearful or timid through threats or violence. Over time, the word has evolved to also include the idea of causing someone to feel nervous or self-conscious through imposing behavior or presence.