The word intimidating is spelled with a prefix in- and the root word timid. The prefix in- means "not" or "without," while the root word timid means "lacking in confidence or boldness; easily frightened." The word is pronounced as [ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪtɪŋ], with the stress on the second syllable. The vowel sound in the second syllable is pronounced as "ih," while the final syllable ends in "-ting" and has a secondary stress. This word implies causing fear or discouragement to others, making them feel inferior or powerless.
Intimidating is an adjective used to describe something or someone that instills fear, apprehension, or a sense of being overwhelmed in others. It refers to an act, behavior, or appearance that is intended to make others feel threatened or afraid. Intimidating situations or individuals can make others feel insecure, tense, or uncertain.
A person may be perceived as intimidating due to their physical presence, such as a large and imposing stature, sharp features, or intense gaze. It can also manifest through their verbal or nonverbal communication, such as using a loud or aggressive tone of voice, maintaining strict eye contact, or displaying dominant body language.
Similarly, a situation can be intimidating when it presents a sense of danger, complexity, or challenge that seems difficult to overcome. This can occur in academic or professional settings, social interactions, sports competitions, or any other context where there is potential for conflict, competition, or evaluation.
While intimidation can be a deliberate strategy used to assert power or control over others, it is important to note that it is also subjective and dependent on one's perception. What may be intimidating to one person may not be to another.
In summary, intimidating refers to something or someone that creates a sense of fear, apprehension, or unease in others. It can be manifested through physical appearance, behavior, or environment, and is often associated with situations in which power dynamics or potential conflict are present.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "intimidating" originated from the verb "intimidate". The term "intimidate" comes from the Latin word "intimidare", which is formed by combining the prefix "in-" (meaning "in" or "not") with "timidus" (meaning "fearful" or "timid"). In essence, "intimidate" originally meant "to make timid or fearful". Over time, this extended to its adjectival form "intimidating", describing something or someone that instills fear, apprehension, or a sense of being overwhelmed.