intimidation

UK/ɪntɪmɪˈdeɪʃən/US/ɪntɪmɪˈdeɪʃən/

nounB2+Occasional — familiar, but not everyday · #10,306 of 15,258neutral

Intimidation is frightening somebody into doing as you wish. Witness intimidation.

It works by implication far more often than by any threat that could be quoted. Intimidation of a witness is a serious offence precisely because it defeats the whole system.

Definitions of intimidation

1nounintimidationFrightening somebody into doing as you wish.B2+
“The case collapsed after weeks of intimidation nobody could prove.”

intimidation is a frightening.

Where it comes from

Latin intimidare means to make afraid, from in plus timidus, fearful.

Latin
intimidō — to intimidate, terrify
Medieval Latin
intimidātus
English
intimidate
English, today
intimidation

Built from

in- · Latin — in
timidus · Latin — afraid, timid

From intimidate + ion. Compare French intimidation; perhaps modeled on it. intimidate comes from Medieval Latin intimidātus, perfect passive participle of Latin intimidō (“to intimidate, terrify”) (see -ate), from in- (“in”) + timidus (“afraid, timid”) + -ō; see timid.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

intimidation in the wild

Certain second and third world countries use terrorism as an intimidation tactic.
Intimidation
Certain forms of intimidation like sexual and racial ones are considered as criminal offense in several civilized countries.
Intimidation
The act of intimidation for coercion is considered a threat.
Threat
Proof by intimidation may also back valid assertions.
Proof by intimidation
The expression "proof by intimidation" was coined after Feller's lectures (by Mark Kac).
Proof by intimidation

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

the timidus family

intimidate timid intimidation

intimidation — used about once every 6,066 pages · #10,306 · point at the bar for the others

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