bulldoze

verb

bull·​doze ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz How to pronounce bulldoze (audio)
 also  ˈbəl-
bulldozed; bulldozing; bulldozes

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

intransitive verb

1
: to operate a bulldozer
2
: to force one's way like a bulldozer
Choose the Right Synonym for bulldoze

intimidate, cow, bulldoze, bully, browbeat mean to frighten into submission.

intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

Examples of bulldoze in a Sentence

The crew is bulldozing the trees. They bulldozed a road through the hills. The governor bulldozed the law through the legislature.
Recent Examples on the Web The shelter has been bulldozed, swank condos have been built around the area. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 An existing medical office totaling 20,200 square feet would be bulldozed. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 The images, taken in the past five days by Maxar Technologies, show a significant section of Egyptian territory between a roadway and the Gaza border has been bulldozed. Paul P. Murphy, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024 Others capture soldiers vandalizing local shops and school classrooms, making derogatory comments about Palestinians, bulldozing what appear to be civilian areas and calling for the building of Israeli settlements in Gaza, an inflammatory idea that is promoted by some far-right Israeli politicians. Chevaz Clarke, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 In numerous instances, owners have floated proposals to convert their office buildings into housing or to bulldoze the office structures to clear the way for new housing. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 It was meant to be short-lived, a two-year revival (the building was going to be bulldozed in 2021) of the iconic restaurant that first opened in 1962 and was frequented by Rat Pack–era stars. Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024 The town would then be free to bulldoze all his unlawful structures. Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2023 Entire neighborhoods were bulldozed as West Oakland was surrounded by highways. Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bulldoze.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bull entry 1 + alteration of dose

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulldoze was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near bulldoze

Cite this Entry

“Bulldoze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulldoze. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bulldoze

verb
bull·​doze ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz How to pronounce bulldoze (audio)
bulldozed; bulldozing
1
: to move, clear, or level with a bulldozer
2
: to force as if by using a bulldozer
bulldozed their way through the crowd

More from Merriam-Webster on bulldoze

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