intimidate v.t. overawe (adj. overawing)

Those preparations do not mean that China wants war with the United States. To the contrary, they seem intended mostly to overawe its neighbors while dissuading Washington from coming to their aid if there is ever a clash. (Aaron Friedberg, “China’s Challenge at Sea,” The New York Times, 09/22/2011.)

This word, when used in the above sense, can also be a synonym for scare, frighten or alarm.