To intimidate someone means to make them feel frightened or less confident, usually so they'll back down or do what you want. When a bully intimidates smaller kids on the playground, they use threats, mean looks, or their size to make others feel scared and powerless. Someone might try to intimidate you before a spelling bee by bragging about how many words they know, hoping you'll get nervous and perform poorly.

Intimidation works by making people doubt themselves. A difficult math problem might feel intimidating at first glance, full of complicated numbers and symbols that make you want to give up before trying. A new teacher with a stern expression might seem intimidating on the first day of school, though you might discover later that they're actually kind and helpful.

When you intimidate someone, you're essentially trying to make them timid or afraid. Some people use intimidation deliberately to control others, while other things feel intimidating simply because they're new or challenging.