browbeat Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb be bossy towards
    bully; ballyrag; bullyrag; hector; push around; boss around; strong-arm.
    • Her big brother always bullied her when she was young
  2. verb discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
    swagger; bully.

WordNet

Brow"beat` transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect Browbeat; past participle Browbeaten present participle & verbal noun Browbeating
Definitions
  1. To depress or bear down with haughty, stern looks, or with arrogant speech and dogmatic assertions; to abash or disconcert by impudent or abusive words or looks; to bully; as, to browbeat witnesses.
    My grandfather was not a man to be browbeaten. W. Irving.

Webster 1913