Word: intimidating (adjective)

Associations

The word "intimidating" describes something that makes you feel afraid or nervous. It can refer to people, situations, or things that seem powerful or frightening.

• Example 1: "The tall building was intimidating." This means the building looked very big and made people feel small or scared.
• Example 2: "He has an intimidating presence." This means the person seems strong or powerful, making others feel nervous around him.
• Example 3: "The exam was intimidating." This means the exam seemed difficult and made students feel anxious.

A well-known synonym for "intimidating" is "daunting." The main difference is that "daunting" often implies a challenge that may be difficult to overcome, while "intimidating" focuses more on the fear or nervousness it causes.

Substitution

Instead of "intimidating," you could use:

• "frightening," which emphasizes fear more.
• "overwhelming," which suggests being unable to cope with something.
• "formidable," which highlights strength or power.

Using these substitutes can change the feeling of the sentence. For example, "The exam was overwhelming" suggests it was too much to handle, while "The exam was frightening" focuses more on fear.

Deconstruction

The word "intimidating" comes from the root "intimidate," which means to frighten or make someone feel less confident. The suffix "-ing" makes it an adjective, describing something that causes intimidation. The Latin root "timidus" means timid or fearful, which helps explain why "intimidating" has a negative feeling.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt intimidated? What was the situation?
• Are there people or things in your life that you find intimidating? Why do you think that is?
• How might someone try to overcome feelings of intimidation in a challenging situation?