Intimidation is when someone tries to make another person feel scared or nervous in order to control them or get what they want. When a bully uses intimidation, they might threaten, glare, or loom over other students to make them hand over lunch money or stay quiet. The bully's goal is to make others too frightened to stand up for themselves.

Intimidation doesn't always involve direct threats. Sometimes it's subtler: a teammate might use intimidation by rolling their eyes and sighing loudly whenever you suggest an idea, making you feel too uncomfortable to speak up. In sports, a competitor might try intimidation by staring down opponents before a game, hoping to shake their confidence.

When you intimidate someone, you're trying to make them timid or afraid. Being intimidated is the feeling you get when someone's behavior makes you nervous or unsure of yourself.

Some things might feel intimidating without anyone trying to intimidate you: a difficult math problem can seem intimidating, or performing in front of a large audience might feel intimidating, even if the audience wants you to succeed.