What is intimidate? Pronunciation and usage in English

intimidate means . Learn how to pronounce and use intimidate through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of intimidate

intimidateverb

/ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt//ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "intimidate." It's a tricky one for English learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. Syllables: The word is divided into three syllables:

  • in-
  • ti-mi-
  • date

2. Sounds:

  • in: Pronounced like the "in" in "tin." (short "i" sound)
  • ti: Pronounced like "tee" – as in "tea."
  • mi: Pronounced like "me" – as in "memories."
  • date: This is the trickiest part! It’s pronounced like “dayt.” Not “date” like the fruit. The emphasis is on the "day" part.

3. Putting it together:

Say it slowly: "in-tee-mi-dayt"

4. A smoother flow:

Once you get the individual sounds, try to blend them together. A slightly faster, but clear pronunciation would be: "in-ti-mi-date"

Resources for Hearing it:

Tips:

  • Don't say "date" like the fruit. That's the most common mistake.
  • Focus on the "dayt" sound at the end.
  • Listen to native speakers and mimic their pronunciation.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly again?
  • Give you some example sentences to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word intimidate in English

Let's break down how to use the word "intimidate" effectively in English. It's a powerful word with a specific meaning, and using it correctly will make your writing and speech stronger.

1. Core Meaning:

"Intimidate" means to make someone feel afraid or nervous, often so they are less likely to do something. It's about creating a feeling of apprehension or fear.

2. Parts of a Sentence & Examples:

Here's how you can incorporate "intimidate" into different sentence structures:

  • Subject + Intimidate + Object: This is the most common structure.

    • Example: "The size of the crowd intimidated me." (The crowd made me feel nervous.)
    • Example: "His booming voice intimidated the new employees." (His voice made them feel uneasy.)
    • Example: “The professor’s challenging questions intimidated the students.” (The questions made them nervous and hesitant.)

  • Subject + Verbs of Feeling (e.g., made, caused, induced) + Intimidate + Object:

    • Example: "The dark alley made him intimidate." (The alley caused him to feel intimidated.)
    • Example: “The constant criticism induced her to intimidate her colleagues.” (The criticism made her feel intimidated.)

  • Passive Voice: (Less common, but sometimes useful)

    • Example: "The students were intimidated by the examiner’s strict demeanor." (The examiner’s behavior made the students feel intimidated.)

3. Different Contexts & Nuances:

  • People: "Intimidate" is often used to describe how someone acts to make another person feel fearful.

    • "The bully intimidated the younger children."
    • “The powerful CEO intimidated his subordinates through his sharp criticism.”

  • Situations/Places: A place or situation can also be intimidating.

    • "The vastness of the ocean intimidated the novice sailor."
    • "The complex legal documents intimidated her initially."

  • Threats/Actions: "Intimidate" can describe a threatening action.

    • “The gang threatened to intimidate anyone who spoke out against them.”

4. Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

  • Scare
  • Frighten
  • Appall
  • Daunt
  • Discourage
  • Deter
  • Unnerve

5. Important Considerations:

  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of just saying someone was intimidated, try to show the effect. Describe their physical reactions (e.g., trembling hands, racing heart, difficulty speaking), their thoughts, or their behavior.

    • Weak: "He was intimidated."
    • Stronger: "He swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he approached the towering stack of files."

  • Intimidation is often purposeful: "Intimidate" frequently implies that someone is deliberately trying to make another person feel afraid. If someone is simply nervous without an effort to make others nervous, another word like “concerned” or “uneasy” might be more appropriate.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you writing (e.g., a story, an essay, a report)?
  • Can you give me a sentence you're struggling with that involves "intimidate"?

Synonyms for the word intimidate

Practice with vocabulary intimidate

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The new CEO's intense gaze and direct questions seemed designed to ________ some employees.
  2. We tried to ________ him into revealing the source of the leak, but he remained steadfast and unyielding.
  3. Despite the pressure, she refused to let their aggressive tactics ________ her from presenting her findings at the board meeting.
  4. His powerful speech managed to ________ the team and boost their morale significantly before the project deadline.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The opposing team's reputation and large fan base often served to ________ new players before crucial matches. a) embolden b) daunt c) encourage d) intimidate e) dishearten

  2. To ensure compliance with the new safety regulations, the company decided to ________ a strict penalty system for violations. a) defer b) implement c) omit d) initiate e) exempt

  3. The unfamiliar environment and the critical audience began to ________ the young presenter. a) comfort b) unnerve c) reassure d) intimidate e) embolden

  4. The manager's primary goal was to ________ staff members to proactively seek out professional development opportunities. a) deter b) discourage c) facilitate d) encourage e) inspire

  5. The lawyer's aggressive questioning style was clearly an attempt to ________ the witness into contradicting her earlier testimony. a) coerce b) challenge c) placate d) intimidate e) persuade

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. His imposing presence often made new employees feel uneasy and hesitant to speak up during meetings. (Rewrite using a form of "intimidate")
  2. The aggressive questioning from the committee was meant to make the witness afraid and uncertain. (Rewrite using "intimidate")
  3. The company decided to put strong financial penalties in place to stop employees from sharing confidential information. (Rewrite using a suitable replacement word, NOT "intimidate")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. intimidate
  2. coerce
  3. intimidate
  4. inspire

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) daunt, d) intimidate, e) dishearten
  2. b) implement, d) initiate
  3. b) unnerve, d) intimidate
  4. d) encourage, e) inspire
  5. a) coerce, d) intimidate

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. His imposing presence often tended to intimidate new employees, making them hesitant to speak up during meetings.
  2. The aggressive questioning from the committee was clearly meant to intimidate the witness.
  3. The company decided to deter employees from sharing confidential information by implementing strong financial penalties.

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