intimidated
C1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
Feeling frightened, nervous, or lacking in confidence because of the presence or actions of someone/something perceived as threatening or superior.
Made to feel afraid or insufficient, often to the point of being discouraged from taking action or asserting oneself; coerced or daunted.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily functions as an adjective describing an emotional state. It implies a cause (by someone/something) that induces fear or inhibition. Can describe both temporary feelings and more permanent character traits resulting from repeated experiences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. Slight preference in American English for 'intimidated by' over 'intimidated of', though both are used.
Connotations
Consistently negative, associated with loss of power, confidence, or agency.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English corpora, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] feel intimidated [by O][S] be/become/get intimidated [into V-ing]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't be intimidated by the big names.”
- “He was intimidated into signing the contract.”
- “She refused to be intimidated by their bluster.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often describes employees or new entrants feeling overwhelmed by senior management, competition, or complex regulations.
Academic
Used to describe students feeling daunted by challenging material, prestigious institutions, or authoritative figures.
Everyday
Commonly describes social anxiety, feeling out of place in a group, or being daunted by a new task.
Technical
In legal contexts, refers to witnesses or parties coerced by threats.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The gang intimidated the shopkeeper into paying protection money.
- He felt the other candidates were trying to intimidate him.
American English
- The lawsuit was meant to intimidate the newspaper into silence.
- They can't intimidate us into dropping the charges.
adjective
British English
- The new students looked intimidated by the school's formal traditions.
- She felt too intimidated to ask a question in the lecture.
American English
- He wasn't intimidated by the fancy restaurant or the high prices.
- Don't be intimidated by all the technical jargon in the manual.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I felt intimidated on my first day at the big school.
- He was intimidated by the large dog.
- Many people are intimidated by job interviews.
- She didn't want to seem intimidated, so she tried to smile.
- The aggressive questioning left the witness visibly intimidated.
- Young lawyers are often intimidated by the formality of the court.
- The regime systematically intimidated political opponents into submission.
- Despite being intellectually intimidated by her peers, she persevered with her research.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IN-TIMID-ated': Inside (IN), a timid (TIMID) person is made (ATED) by a threat.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEAR IS A FORCE THAT REDUCES SIZE/POWER (She felt small and intimidated. He was crushed by the criticism.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'испуганный' (scared) if the cause is social pressure rather than physical danger. 'Запуганный' is closer but stronger. 'Стесняться' is to be shy, not intimidated.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'of' instead of 'by' (e.g., 'intimidated of him' is non-standard). Confusing with 'intimate' (completely different word).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'intimidated' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, one can feel intimidated by situations (a difficult exam), abstract concepts (new technology), or even inanimate objects (a large machine).
'Scared' is a general term for fear. 'Intimidated' specifically implies fear that makes one feel inferior, less confident, or coerced, often in a social or psychological context.
Rarely. It is almost always negative. However, one might say 'I was intimidated (in a good way) by her talent,' meaning awed or deeply impressed, but this is an extended, slightly informal use.
Yes, but it means 'I cause others to feel intimidated.' It describes the effect you have, not your own feeling. To describe your own feeling, you must say 'I feel intimidated' or 'I am intimidated.'