SuaviloquyToday’s word

browbeat

Browbeat, v. t. [imp. Browbeat; p. p. Browbeaten; p. pr. & vb. n. Browbeating.]

To depress or bear down with haughty, stern looks, or with arrogant speech and dogmatic assertions; to abash or disconcert by impudent or abusive words or looks; to bully; as, to browbeat witnesses. My grandfather was not a man to be browbeaten. W. Irving.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for browbeat; he lists it under frighten.

Where he writes about it:

To browbeat or cow is to bring into a state of submissive fear; to daunt is to give pause or check to a violent, threatening, or even a brave spirit. — from frighten