Intimidate

Learn the meaning of intimidate with pronunciation, definition, examples, synonyms, antonyms, UPSC explanation, and word usage in simple language.

Intimidate Meaning, Definition, Examples & Usage Guide

Overview

Intimidate is a powerful English word used to describe the act of making someone feel afraid, nervous, or less confident—often so that they will do what another person wants. The word is commonly used in everyday conversation, formal writing, psychology, law, politics, education, and even technology.

In simple terms, to intimidate means to scare or pressure someone mentally, not always by physical force, but often through words, behavior, authority, or presence.

This article explains intimidate in clear, easy language with examples, tables, and structured sections, making it suitable for learners, competitive exam aspirants (including UPSC), writers, and general readers.

Pronunciation

Tip:
The stress falls on the second syllable: in-TIM-i-date

Definitions and Functions

Primary Definition

Intimidate (verb):
To make someone feel frightened, nervous, or less confident, usually in order to control or influence their actions.

Example:
The loud voice of the bully was meant to intimidate the younger students.

Extended Definitions

Core Functions of the Word

• Expresses fear-based influence
• Describes power imbalance
• Highlights emotional or psychological pressure
• Often carries a negative moral tone

UPSC-Level Explanation (Easy & Clear)

For competitive exams like UPSC, understanding both literal and contextual meaning is important.

In Ethics & Society

• Intimidation violates human dignity
• It discourages free expression
• It weakens democratic values

Example:
Voter intimidation undermines free and fair elections.

In Governance & Law

• Intimidation is often linked to:
  • Abuse of power
  • Corruption
  • Threats to whistleblowers

Example:
Laws exist to prevent intimidation of witnesses.

In Essay Writing

You can use intimidate to discuss:

• Authoritarian behavior
• Social injustice
• Power misuse

Etymology and History

Word Origin

Historical Evolution

• Originally meant to inspire fear
• Gradually included mental pressure
• Modern usage emphasizes psychological control

Grammar and Linguistic Usage

Part of Speech

• Verb (transitive)

Verb Forms

Sentence Structures

• Active Voice:
  The leader intimidated his rivals.
• Passive Voice:
  The witnesses were intimidated.

Common Collocations

• Intimidate someone
• Intimidate into silence
• Intimidating presence
• Intimidating behavior

Symbolism and Cultural Importance

Symbolic Meaning

Intimidate symbolically represents:

• Fear vs courage
• Power vs vulnerability
• Authority vs freedom

Cultural Perspective

In modern culture, intimidation is often associated with:

• Bullying
• Harassment
• Oppression

Use of “Intimidate” in Technology and the Internet

Digital Context

In the online world, intimidation often appears as:

• Cyberbullying
• Online harassment
• Threat messages
• Trolling

Example:
Anonymous users tried to intimidate the journalist online.

Technology-Related Usage

Use in Science and Psychology

Psychological Meaning

• Intimidation triggers stress response
• Can cause:
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of confidence
  • Long-term trauma

Scientific Observations

• Fear affects decision-making
• Intimidated individuals may:
  • Avoid risk
  • Obey authority
  • Lose creativity

Spelling and Word Formation

Correct Spelling

✔ intimidate
✘ intimitate
✘ intimidait

Word Family

Rhyming Words

Words that rhyme or near-rhyme with intimidate:

• dominate
• eliminate
• validate
• calculate
• regulate

Synonyms & Related Words

Synonyms Table

Related Words

• harassment
• domination
• fear
• coercion

Antonyms (Opposite Words)

Variants and Equivalents in Other Languages

Fun Facts About “Intimidate”

• 📘 Often confused with “dominate”, but intimidate focuses on fear, not control alone.
• 🧠 Fear-based words like intimidate activate emotional centers in the brain.
• 🎭 Villains in movies often intimidate before they attack.
• 📚 Frequently used in law books and ethics essays.
• ✍️ Common in editorial writing and opinion pieces.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ He intimidated by the boss.
✔ He was intimidated by the boss.

❌ She intimidates fear.
✔ She intimidates others.

Simple Everyday Examples

• The strict teacher did not mean to intimidate the students.
• Loud shouting can intimidate people.
• Laws exist to stop intimidation at workplaces.
• Confidence helps you resist intimidation.

Final Summary

Intimidate is a strong verb that describes the act of creating fear or pressure to influence someone. Its usage spans language, psychology, law, technology, culture, and ethics. While it may appear powerful, intimidation is generally viewed negatively in modern society because it suppresses freedom, confidence, and fairness.

Understanding this word deeply helps improve:

• Vocabulary
• Essay writing
• Competitive exam answers
• Communication skills