BROWBEATING Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

browbeating 1 of 3

adjective

as in bullying

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browbeating

2 of 3

noun

as in coercion

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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

Repent and repair Rather than browbeating people into repentance, the Ne’ilah service’s strategy is to boost them up into it, playing upon the biblical idea of the grandeur of humanity. — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026 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

Adjective

Mourinho stressed the importance of preparing Vinicius emotionally, noting the irony given broader anti-bullying sentiments.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of bullying

Noun

Nearly a year later, Brazil’s courts convicted Eduardo of coercion and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Other leaders seem resigned to the fact that this 80-year global experiment in cooperative international relations has ceded the floor once again to the world order of coercion that dictated most of human history.

— Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of coercion

Verb

Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese used the term paper tiger to describe someone who appears powerful and intimidating but ultimately poses little threat.

— Antonio Ferme, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
Regan has been accused of threatening and intimidating women who worked for the union’s parent organization, and of physically assaulting one, according to reporting by The Times.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 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

That ratio is expected to fall to around two by 2050, putting further pressure on growth and public finances, including healthcare systems, according to Moody’s.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
In the early 2000s, the city authorities stopped the culling of baboon troops in response to public pressure, but that has since swollen the population by a third – to around 500.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of pressure

Adjective

Hers is an art of transmutation, but one that never shies from showing you the pain it’s made from, at once hopeful and unflinching.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Moises Vladimir Cordero also acknowledged the unflinching bravery of first responders.

— Kaanita Iyer, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of unflinching

Noun

But there are several other federal and state statutes barring voter intimidation that could apply.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
The framework says support for Israel need not mean endorsing every government decision, and calls on Israel to act against settler intimidation and violence.

— Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of intimidation

Adjective

This view helpfully shows key numbers (such as resolved requests, involvement rate, resolution rate) at the top, along with a funnel that visualizes visualizing how requests are resolved (with AI or humans).

— Dianna Gunn, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026
There's a difference between a closed ticket and a resolved issue.

— Amit Mathradas, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of resolved

Browse Nearby Words

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browbeating

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“Browbeating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/browbeating. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of browbeating

adjective

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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