in·tim·i·date

[in-tim-i-deyt]
verb (used with object), in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing.
1.
to make timid; fill with fear.
2.
to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.
3.
to force into or deter from some action by inducing fear: to intimidate a voter into staying away from the polls.

Origin:
1640–50; < Medieval Latin intimidātus, past participle of intimidāre to make afraid, equivalent to Latin in- in-2 + timid(us) timid, afraid + -ātus -ate1

in·tim·i·da·tion, noun
in·tim·i·da·tor, noun
in·tim·i·da·to·ry [in-tim-i-duh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective
un·in·tim·i·dat·ed, adjective
un·in·tim·i·dat·ing, adjective

intimate, intimidate.


1. frighten, subdue, daunt, terrify. See discourage.


1. calm. 3. encourage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To intimidate
00:10
Intimidate is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
Collins
World English Dictionary
intimidate (ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to make timid or frightened; scare
2.  to discourage, restrain, or silence illegally or unscrupulously, as by threats or blackmail
 
[C17: from Medieval Latin intimidāre, from Latin in-² + timidus fearful, from timor fear]
 
in'timidating
 
adj
 
intimi'dation
 
n
 
in'timidator
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

intimidate
1640s, from M.L. intimidatus, pp. of intimidare "to frighten, intimidate," from L. in- "in" + timidus "fearful" (see timid).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Other behaviors are not necessarily illegal but are abusive and controlling,
  designed to intimidate or instill fear.
He is also a scold who can intimidate the market into doing what he wants it to
  do.
We do not deny, intimidate, insult and blackmail to cover up the error.
Every design professional has an opening pitch designed to both entice and
  intimidate the client.
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