browbeating 1 of 3

adjective

as in bullying

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

browbeating

2 of 3

noun

as in coercion

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

browbeating

3 of 3

verb

present participle of browbeat
as in intimidating
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats they would often browbeat the younger child until he cried

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of browbeating
Verb
His process of doing so involved disparaging his accusers, browbeating people and institutions that no longer wanted to be associated with him, and refusing to accept a path that precluded a return to being a public figure. — Elizabeth Spiers, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026 Analysts have suggested a vote from Waller in favor of interest rate cuts, aligning with the president’s browbeating demands for lower borrowing costs—could be seen as a bellwether for his candidacy. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026 This might take a series of browbeating prompts, but that’s not a big deal. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for browbeating
  1. bullying
  2. coercion
  3. intimidating
  4. ascetic
  5. pressure
  6. unflinching
  7. intimidation
  8. resolved
Adjective
  • Investigators are still verifying the suspect’s claim, but regional education officials immediately ordered schools to step up anti-bullying campaigns.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 23 June 2026
  • Readers are encouraged to think about themes of anti-bullying and unity through the story.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
Definition of bullying
Noun
  • For decades, Washington’s use of economic and military coercion was constrained, at least in part, by the damage that such actions could inflict on the United States, including through oil shocks.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • However, coercion and the constant specter of war have also fed disillusionment and conflict fatigue.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of coercion
Verb
  • If retirement investing feels intimidating, SoFi Invest strips out a lot of the friction.
    — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Leadership roles or intimidating pivots that require you to have courage are no exception.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of intimidating
Adjective
  • And there were posters tearing apart his otherworldly self-projection as a fakir, or ascetic, depicting him in his monogrammed suits, designer sunglasses, and aircraft.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of ascetic
Noun
  • The dart to Odunze came with Williams flushing to his right away from pressure in the end zone and then putting a heater on his receiver, who had created separation against Jaylon Johnson.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Etzel said the executive order is also intended to put pressure on states that establish vaccine requirements for schools, while potentially setting up additional legal challenges over the federal government’s authority to influence vaccine policy.
    — Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of pressure
Adjective
  • Tobe Hooper’s original film is arguably the best artistic achievement that the genre has ever seen, boasting an unflinching portrayal of brutality that holds up to this day.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Like many great works of American literature, the book is an unflinching portrait of a seemingly happy family held together by hubris and fear of change.
    — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 1 July 2026
Definition of unflinching
Noun
  • Carro’s anonymity order is designed to protect jurors from possible harassment and intimidation efforts.
    — Adam Reiss, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Military intimidation continues, but China is also waging a battle over language, law, and international legitimacy.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of intimidation
Adjective
  • There's a difference between a closed ticket and a resolved issue.
    — Amit Mathradas, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Contracts should reward resolved calls and cleared backlogs, and delivery risk should sit with the vendors.
    — Tom Dowling, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of resolved

Browse Nearby Words

browbeaten
browbeating
browbeatings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Browbeating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/browbeating. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on browbeating

Nglish: Translation of browbeating for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All