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browbeat (v.)

"to bully," originally "to bear down with stern or arrogant looks," 1580s, from brow + beat (v.).

[I]t appears from the earliest quotations ... that the brow in question was that of the beater, not of the beaten party; but it is not evident whether the meaning was 'to beat with one's (frowning) brows,' or 'to beat (?lower) one's brows at.' [OED]

Related: Browbeaten; browbeating.

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Definitions of browbeat from WordNet

browbeat (v.)
be bossy towards;
Synonyms: strong-arm / bully / bullyrag / ballyrag / boss around / hector / push around
browbeat (v.)
discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate;
Synonyms: bully / swagger
From wordnet.princeton.edu