WorldSeptember 7, 2026
browbeaten
BROW-bee-ten
Definition
To intimidate or coerce someone into doing something by using stern, abusive, or persistent verbal pressure.
Etymology
Originating in the mid-16th century, the term combines 'brow' (referring to the eyebrows, which were frowned in a stern look) and 'beat,' describing the act of intimidating someone through a severe or threatening appearance.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe how individual jurors can be pressured into changing their vote during deliberations, highlighting a vulnerability in the jury system.
Murder case which gripped the world shows pitfalls of the jury system
Read the full article ↗The Argus