browbeat

American

[brou-beet] / ˈbraʊˌbit /

verb (used with object)

browbeat, browbeaten, browbeating

to intimidate by overbearing looks or words; bully.

They browbeat him into agreeing.

Synonyms:

coerce, harass, tyrannize, badger, cow

browbeat British

/ ˈbraʊˌbiːt /

verb

(tr) to discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

browbeater noun

Etymology

Origin of browbeat

First recorded in 1575–85; brow + beat

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But when things started to get "really crazy", she browbeat her parents into coming with her.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025

Spektor said that despite the Biden administration’s attempt to cajole, rather than browbeat, developing nations into supporting its global priorities, they would probably remain wary.

From Washington Post • Apr. 29, 2023

They will believe you can browbeat an extremely well-lawyered public company into getting out of a deal that has no apparent legal out.

From Slate • Dec. 1, 2022

“Attorney General Garland is my constituent, and I don’t browbeat my constituents,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

From Washington Times • Jun. 12, 2022

I took Master Hemme’s hair from the student and recognized him as Basil, the boy Hemme had browbeat yesterday.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023