intimidating
Makes others shrink
Intimidating describes something or someone that makes others feel fear, nervousness, or inadequacy.
An intimidating person projects power or hostility.
An intimidating task seems daunting before you begin.
The word often describes situations where confidence falters: Walking into the interview felt intimidating.
Something intimidating may be genuinely threatening or merely impressive enough to unsettle: The sheer size of the library was intimidating.
Causing fright
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- frighteningInspiring terror or alarm
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- dreadfulCausing great fear or suffering
spine-chilling · unnerving · unsettling · chilling · hair-raising · blood-curdling · petrifying · horrifying
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
sinister · foreboding · glowering · scowling · fierce · ferocious · predatory · dangerous
Having superior influence
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- commandingExerting strong authority
- powerfulHaving great strength
authoritative · formidable · towering · looming · overbearing · overpowering · overwhelming · larger-than-life
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- pushyUnpleasantly forceful in manner
bossy · heavy-handed · forceful · pressuring · harassing · hectoring · browbeating · badgering
scary
Causing fright
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- frighteningInspiring terror or alarm
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
dreadful · spine-chilling · unnerving · unsettling · chilling · hair-raising · blood-curdling · petrifying · horrifying · nightmarish
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
ominous · sinister · foreboding · glowering · scowling · fierce · ferocious · predatory · dangerous · alarming
dominant
Having superior influence
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- commandingExerting strong authority
powerful · authoritative · formidable · towering · looming · overbearing · overpowering · overwhelming · larger-than-life · impressive
bullying
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
pushy · bossy · heavy-handed · forceful · pressuring · harassing · hectoring · browbeating · badgering · strongarming
formidable
Inspiring fear or respect
- challengingHard to accomplish
- dauntingDiscouraging through difficulty
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
demanding · rigorous · exacting · steep · uphill · grueling · taxing · strenuous · difficult · tough
stern
Strict or ship's aft
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
- forbiddingIntimidatingly stern or hostile
- coldLow temperature state
steely · piercing · withering · imperious · haughty · aloof · unapproachable · frosty · stony · humorless
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, bullying, menace
- abusemistreatment, domestic abuse, elder abuse, maltreatment, cruelty
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- hostile behaviorsattacking, bullying, fighting, harassing, hitting
- menacingthreatening, menacing, ominous, sinister, foreboding
- mistreatmentbullying, harassing, oppressing, humiliating, degrading
intimidatingreassuring
Restoring calm or confidence
comforting · soothing · encouraging · calming · heartening
intimidatingwelcoming
Receiving others warmly
approachable · inviting · friendly · warm · accessible
intimidatingharmless
Causing no injury
nonthreatening · unthreatening · safe · benign · gentle
- witness intimidationThreatening courtroom testifiers
- voter intimidationDiscouraging voting through threats
- intimidation tacticsFear-based coercion methods