Intimidating means causing someone to feel scared, nervous, or less confident, often because something seems difficult, powerful, or threatening. An intimidating person might be very tall, very accomplished, or have a forceful personality that makes others feel small or unsure around them. An intimidating task might seem so hard or complex that you feel anxious just thinking about starting it.

When something is intimidating, it can make you doubt yourself even if you're actually capable. A blank page might feel intimidating to a writer starting a new story. Meeting someone famous could be intimidating because you worry about saying something foolish. Taking a test on material you haven't studied can be intimidating because you know you're unprepared.

Sometimes people deliberately intimidate others to gain an advantage, like a bully who uses size or loud words to scare classmates. But often things feel intimidating simply because they're new or challenging. A difficult math problem might look intimidating at first, but becomes manageable once you break it into smaller steps. Feeling intimidated is normal when facing something unfamiliar or challenging, and it can shrink as you practice and learn.