plural bullies
1
a
: a blustering, browbeating person
especially
: one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable
tormented by the neighborhood bully
b
: pimp
2
: a hired ruffian
3
bullied; bullying
1
: to treat (someone) in a cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive fashion : to act like a bully toward
bullied her younger brother
2
: to cause (someone) to do something by means of force or coercion
was bullied into accepting their offer
: to use language or behavior that is cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive
Did you know?
Bully Wasn't Always Negative
The earliest meaning of English bully was “sweetheart.” The word was probably borrowed from Dutch boel, “lover.” Later bully was used for anyone who seemed a good fellow, then for a blustering daredevil. Today, a bully is usually one whose claims to strength and courage are based on the intimidation of those who are weaker.
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb
- abuse
- brutalize
- ill-treat
- ill-use
- kick around
- maltreat
- manhandle
- mess over [slang]
- mishandle
- mistreat
- misuse
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Examples of bully in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the school has a procedure for students who want to report problems with bullies
the local loan shark and his bullies have ways of making people pay up
Verb
He bullied his younger brothers.
the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates
Adjective
that's a bully idea for reviving the town's retail center
Recent Examples on the Web
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 May 2024
Baker will discuss strategies from her book on how to deal with a government that doesn’t seem to listen to you, political bullies and how to be involved in local decision-making.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2024
Sure, James’ transformation from arrogant bully to soft-hearted sweetie is whiplash fast, but Maxton Hall knows what its audience wants: #Juby!
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 7 May 2024
Kate Beckinsale is clearing up plastic surgery accusations — and calling out her bullies.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 5 May 2024
School leaders had her son’s bully sign a stay-away agreement, a document that orders the aggressor to stop certain behaviors, including verbally or physically tormenting another student or threatening them online.
—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 May 2024
But as Daniels shows with appropriate scenery chewing, Charlie is just a familiar type of charming bully who has to be in control.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
In the book’s pivotal scene, the boy fails to stand up for his friends when they get beaten up by a pack of bullies.
—Moeko Fujii, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
And much of this content hails the shooters as these heroes or anti-heroes who are striking back against bullies.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The father-son duo were the emotional crux of many a Glee plotline, from Kurt’s bullying trauma to Burt’s cancer diagnosis.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 19 May 2024
Meza was asked if Kang knew about the girl being bullied by her teammates in the showers?
—Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024
Aww, Anne’s daughter is being bullied and having her crush be mean to her, all because her mom is finally having fun for once.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 3 May 2024
Some parents are concerned about bullying that could happen at larger schools and their children not getting as much personalized attention.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2024
Missouri’s attorney general at the time, a MAGA Republican, began filing lawsuits alleging that government officials, at times using the nonprofit’s findings, were bullying social-media companies into barring conservative users.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 8 May 2024
The investigation was commissioned after a scathing report last fall in the Wall Street Journal, which documented strip club visits, lewd messages, heavy drinking and bullying at the government agency, which is responsible for safeguarding Americans' bank deposits.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 May 2024
In the previous two possessions, Karl-Anthony Towns ran through Murray like midnight Taco Bell and Anthony Edwards bullied his way to a hanging layup over Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 May 2024
Noun
That public beach is walled off from Cage because the surf-bum bullies are trust-fund kids shielding their private community.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 May 2024
Baker will discuss strategies from her book on how to deal with a government that doesn’t seem to listen to you, political bullies and how to be involved in local decision-making.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2024
Sure, James’ transformation from arrogant bully to soft-hearted sweetie is whiplash fast, but Maxton Hall knows what its audience wants: #Juby!
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 7 May 2024
Kate Beckinsale is clearing up plastic surgery accusations — and calling out her bullies.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 5 May 2024
School leaders had her son’s bully sign a stay-away agreement, a document that orders the aggressor to stop certain behaviors, including verbally or physically tormenting another student or threatening them online.
—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 May 2024
But as Daniels shows with appropriate scenery chewing, Charlie is just a familiar type of charming bully who has to be in control.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
In the book’s pivotal scene, the boy fails to stand up for his friends when they get beaten up by a pack of bullies.
—Moeko Fujii, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
And much of this content hails the shooters as these heroes or anti-heroes who are striking back against bullies.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Verb
While there are faint glimmers of a moral conscience in some of Stan’s early scenes, such concerns are quickly swept aside once Donald starts seeing the results Cohn gets with bullying chicanery.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
The father-son duo were the emotional crux of many a Glee plotline, from Kurt’s bullying trauma to Burt’s cancer diagnosis.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 19 May 2024
Meza was asked if Kang knew about the girl being bullied by her teammates in the showers?
—Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024
Aww, Anne’s daughter is being bullied and having her crush be mean to her, all because her mom is finally having fun for once.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 3 May 2024
Some parents are concerned about bullying that could happen at larger schools and their children not getting as much personalized attention.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2024
Missouri’s attorney general at the time, a MAGA Republican, began filing lawsuits alleging that government officials, at times using the nonprofit’s findings, were bullying social-media companies into barring conservative users.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 8 May 2024
The investigation was commissioned after a scathing report last fall in the Wall Street Journal, which documented strip club visits, lewd messages, heavy drinking and bullying at the government agency, which is responsible for safeguarding Americans' bank deposits.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 May 2024
In the previous two possessions, Karl-Anthony Towns ran through Murray like midnight Taco Bell and Anthony Edwards bullied his way to a hanging layup over Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bully.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bully
Cite this Entry
“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bully. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bully
1 of 2 noun
bul·ly
ˈbu̇l-ē 
plural bullies
: a person who purposely hurts, intimidates, threatens, or ridicules another usually more vulnerable person especially repeatedly
bully
2 of 2 verb
bullied; bullying
: to act like a bully toward
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