describing things that cause fear

intimidating

intimidating [adjective]

making you feel frightened or nervous

US /ɪnˈtɪm.ə.deɪ.t̬ɪŋ/ 
UK /ɪnˈtɪm.ɪ.deɪ.tɪŋ/ 
Example: 

She can be very intimidating when she's angry.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

intimidating

intimidating /ɪˈtɪmədeɪtɪŋ, ɪˈtɪmɪdeɪtɪŋ/ BrE AmE adjective
making you feel worried and not confident:
Some people find interview situations very intimidating.
• • •
THESAURUS
frightening making you feel frightened: Being held at gunpoint had been the most frightening moment of his life. | The experience was very frightening.
scary especially spoken frightening. Scary is less formal than frightening and is very common in everyday English: The movie was really scary. | There were some scary moments.
chilling frightening, especially because violence, cruelty, or danger is involved: a chilling tale of revenge, murder and madness | The court heard chilling details about the attack.
spooky frightening and strange, especially because something involves ghosts or powers that people do not understand: The forest is really spooky in the dark. | a spooky coincidence | spooky stories
creepy informal frightening in a way that makes you feel nervous, especially when you are not sure exactly why – used especially about places, people, and feelings: This place is really creepy. Let’s get out of here. | a creepy guy | Do you know that creepy feeling when you're sure someone’s there but you can’t see or hear anything?
eerie especially literary strange and frightening: There was an eerie silence immediately after the bomb went off. | an eerie light | an eerie feeling
intimidating making you feel frightened, nervous, or lacking in confidence: Big schools can be an intimidating place for young children. | Giving evidence in court is often a rather intimidating experience. | the intimidating presence of a large number of soldiers
menacing frightening because you think someone is going to hurt you, even though they have not said or done anything violent – used especially about someone’s expression or voice: The woman had a very menacing look. | ‘I’d like to have a word with you outside,’ he said in a menacing tone.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

intimidating

 

in·timi·dat·ing [intimidating]   [ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪtɪŋ]    [ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪtɪŋ]  adjective
frightening in a way which makes a person feel less confident
an intimidating manner
~ for/to sb This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children.  
Example Bank:

The atmosphere was less intimidating than I had imagined.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

intimidating / ɪnˈtɪm.ɪ.deɪ.tɪŋ /   / -t̬ɪŋ / adjective

making you feel frightened or nervous:

an intimidating array of weapons

an intimidating manner

She can be very intimidating when she's angry.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

intimidating

[ɪntɪ̱mɪdeɪtɪŋ]
 ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n
 If you describe someone or something as intimidating, you mean that they are frightening and make people lose confidence.
  He was a huge, intimidating figure.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

intimidate

 

in·tim·i·date /ɪnˈtɪməˌdeɪt/ verb -dates; -dat·ed; -dat·ing [+ obj] : to make (someone) afraid
• He tries to intimidate his opponents.
• You shouldn't allow his reputation to intimidate you.
- often used as (be) intimidated
• Many people are intimidated by new technology.
• Some people are easily intimidated.
• She was intimidated by the size of the campus.
- intimidated adj [more ~; most ~]
• I feel less intimidated now than I did when I started the job.
- intimidating adj [more ~; most ~]
• He is one of the most intimidating men I have ever met.
• Speaking in front of a large audience can be very intimidating.
- in·tim·i·dat·ing·ly /ɪnˈtɪməˌdeɪtɪŋli/ adv
• The system is intimidatingly complex.
- in·tim·i·da·tion /ɪnˌtɪməˈdeɪʃən/ noun [noncount]
intimidation of jurors/witnesses
• enforcing agreement by intimidation or violence
- in·tim·i·da·tor /ɪnˈtɪməˌdeɪtɚ/ noun, pl -tors [count]

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