bulldoze

bull·doze

verb \ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz also ˈbəl-\

Definition of BULLDOZE

transitive verb

1

: to coerce or restrain by threats : bully

2

: to move, clear, gouge out, or level off by pushing with or as if with a bulldozer

3

: to force insensitively or ruthlessly <bulldozed the program through the legislature>

intransitive verb

1

: to operate a bulldozer

2

: to force one's way like a bulldozer

Examples of BULLDOZE

1. The crew is bulldozing the trees.
2. They bulldozed a road through the hills.
3. The governor bulldozed the law through the legislature.

Origin of BULLDOZE

perhaps from ¹bull + alteration of dose

First Known Use: 1876

Related to BULLDOZE

Synonyms

bore, bull, ²press, crash, elbow, jam, jostle, muscle, push, shoulder, squeeze

Related Words

ram, shove, thrust

Near Antonyms

cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, steel; convince, persuade

See Synonym Discussion at intimidate

Rhymes with BULLDOZE

appose, bluenose, brownnose, compose, depose, dextrose, disclose, dispose, dog rose, enclose, expose, foreclose, fructose, glucose, hardnose, impose, Montrose, moss rose, musk rose, old rose, oppose, primrose, propose, pug nose, repose, rockrose, suppose, transpose, tuberose, unclose, viscose, wind rose