as in cowed
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variants
or 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
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Recent Examples of browbeaten
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
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
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
Some of them used that stage to browbeat Democratic politicians.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 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
Adjective
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
Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
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
Some of them used that stage to browbeat Democratic politicians.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for browbeaten
Verb
-
The lawyers who flanked Gisèle Pelicot in court, protected her from cameras, took her to lunch every day so that she wouldn’t be intimidated by seeing some of the men who were on trial for assaulting her drinking beer and laughing together in a nearby café.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Legal experts question Carr’s authority to enforce the rule but say broadcasters are intimidated by threats to pull their licenses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Alper used his speech to express solidarity with oppressed people everywhere.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Ethics of risk There are many examples of Christian leaders who have taken on risks out of a religious and moral obligation to provide spiritual care for people in need or advocate for oppressed communities.—
Laura E. Alexander,
The Conversation,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The emotional turning point came when footage showed the baby monkey being bullied by other monkeys in the troop, prompting a global wave of support.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
-
One video showed Punch being bullied by other monkeys in the troop, and that footage hit a nerve.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Wonder if there's a former Alabama defensive coach looking to be a coordinator for a downtrodden NFC East franchise.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Before diving into season 2, why not reacquaint yourself with The Pitt's heroic (and downtrodden) team?—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Cascada also has a range of other spa services and wellness offerings—from yoga, meditation, and breath work to mud treatments and crushed-ice body exfoliation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Inside, models donned a sea of frilly pink and pearl gowns as waiters in crushed velvet sport coats served up champagne.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said during a press conference shortly after the incident that responding agencies apparently scared off the suspect before the accelerant was ignited.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The animal bit his head, neck and leg before his mother ran over and scared it off.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hungary, seen as the EU's most pro-Russian member, threatened over the weekend to hold up both the sanctions and the $106 billion loan meant to help Ukraine meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.—
SAM McNEIL,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Orbán has frequently threatened to scuttle the bloc’s efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and has decried attempts to hit Russia’s energy revenues that help finance the war.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Browbeaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/browbeaten. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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