Intimidates

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Causes someone to feel afraid or nervous to affect how they act
2. Makes a person feel scared or threatened in order to control their actions
3. Induces fear or anxiety in another to persuade or coerce them

Etymology: The verb "intimidates" is simply the third-person singular present form of "intimidate," so the story belongs to the base word. Its core is the Latin adjective "timidus," meaning "afraid" or "timid," which is also the source of the English "timid." The Latin verb "intimidō" built on that adjective with the prefix "in-," producing a sense close to "to make afraid" or "to terrify." The English word was formed from Medieval Latin "intimidātus," a past participle of that verb, with the verb-forming ending "-ate" added, so it arrived already carrying the idea of frightening someone into submission.

Synonyms: frightens, threatens, daunts, bullys, scares

Antonyms: encourages, comforts, reassures, calms, soothes