BROWBEATEN Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

browbeaten 1 of 2

adjective

as in cowed

Related Words

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browbeaten

2 of 2

verb

variants or browbeat

past participle of browbeat

as in intimidated

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 browbeaten

Adjective

Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Audiences who endured the Miramax era have been browbeaten to believe that the best picture Oscar should go to a period piece that chokes out a sob from audiences. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026

Verb

Some of them used that stage to browbeat Democratic politicians. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2025 But that bar was browbeaten by critics into pausing and then canceling the project. — Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026 Davies more or less browbeat her into terminating the pregnancy, and dropped out of college. — Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 The administration’s apparent plan to resolve this difficulty is to shame or browbeat members of the artistic community into performing there. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025 But analysts have said Trump’s aggressive campaign to browbeat Powell into backing rate cuts could jeopardize the Fed’s autonomy and unnerve markets. — Paul Davidson, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025 Not to mention the relentless White House campaign to browbeat Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower rates while auditioning dovish successors. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for browbeaten

Adjective

The biggest hurdle, though, is simply believing the Elle Woods who learns to prove her doubters wrong at 16 would be so intimidated when faced with doing it again at 22.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 June 2026
In traditional settings, people often feel rushed, intimidated, and unseen.

— Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026

Definition of intimidated

Adjective

The Irish were the original oppressed people from the English Empire, and the original colony.

— Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
The body pointed to the fact that Iran’s Farabi cinema body, which oversees the country’s submission, was directly controlled by the hardline Islamic Republic regime government, which in turn has suppressed freedom of speech and brutally oppressed filmmakers across its 47 years in power.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 May 2026

Definition of oppressed

Verb

At the time of writing, as the Marine Traffic map shows, tanker traffic is barely moving through the Strait, and many ships, unable to obtain insurance or with their owners frightened at the level of risk involved, are refusing to advance.

— Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
But because the president has frightened Congress, Congress doesn’t raise its voice when the president puts his Albert Speer–like building project, or intends to, on Congress’s land.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

The series tracks the pair’s investment in Wrexham AFC, a once-downtrodden team in Wales that has since risen to the verge of a promotion to the Premier League, the highest tier of British pro soccer.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 June 2026
The Union’s Army of the Potomac, about 90,000 men, was looking downtrodden after the losses.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026

Definition of downtrodden

Adjective

Nonetheless, some 120,000 Mint Juleps are consumed across two sunny days at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby, proving that some cocktails can become refreshing daytime summer sippers just by sheer force of will, and a little crushed ice.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
There are seven roasted, charred and crushed chiles in the orange salsa.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of crushed

Verb

And while rain threatened, fans never got a break from the heat.

— Matias Ocner, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Keeping the rescue open has been a challenge Even as wounds from the COVID era began to heal, Gordon said tariffs threatened any progress the rescue was able to make.

— Maveah Griffith, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026

Definition of threatened

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“Browbeaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/browbeaten. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of browbeaten

adjective

verb

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