- Today's Word
Browbeat
BROW-beet
Definition
(verb) To intimidate or bully someone into doing something through stern or aggressive words.
Example
The boss browbeat the team into agreeing with his plan.
Fun Fact
The word browbeat originally referred to the act of literally scowling or glaring someone into submission—beating them down with your brow. It later took on verbal dimensions, often describing intimidation by authority figures like bosses, interrogators, or even overly intense coaches. You’ll find it in legal dramas and political commentary, especially when someone is pressured into compliance without physical force.
(adjective) Wildly unrealistic or fanciful; existing only in the imagination and having no basis in reality.
Critics called the startup’s plan to colonize Mars within five years chimerical — bold in vision, impossible in practice.