browbeat

/ˌbraʊˈbit/

Other forms: browbeaten; browbeating; browbeats

To browbeat is to intimidate with language. Picture yourself in a police station. The cops are trying to get you to talk by using tough, even abusive, language. They are browbeating you.

When someone browbeats you, they're giving you a beating with their mouth and their mind. If your parents have to browbeat you into cleaning your room, they nag you, yell at you and they may even make fun of you and your bad cleaning habits. While the word brow means forehead, think that they're using their head, or brow, to beat you down. It's a figurative, rather than a literal, beating.

Definitions of browbeat

1. verb

   discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
   synonyms: bully, swagger

   type of:

   blarney, cajole, coax, inveigle, palaver, sweet-talk, wheedle

   influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
2. verb

   be bossy towards
   synonyms: ballyrag, boss around, bully, bullyrag, hector, push around, strong-arm

   types:

   domineer, tyrannise, tyrannize

   rule or exercise power over (somebody) in a cruel and autocratic manner

   type of:

   intimidate

   make timid or fearful