bulldoze

verb

bull·​doze ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz 

 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

Synonyms

• bore
• bull
• crash
• elbow
• jam
• jostle
• muscle
• press
• push
• shoulder
• squeeze

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

Forced to retreat back deeper in the field thanks to the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham has been nowhere near as effective this term as Madrid was bulldozed by FC Barcelona in four Clasicos and lost the Copa del Rey and Super Cup finals to it while also ceding La Liga to the Catalans. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

When a computer bulldozes through the barriers humans build to keep it in check, the consequences are usually pretty grave—at least in sci-fi media. —Rory Doherty, Time, 16 May 2025

While Montagu bulldozes ahead from the jump, the women and Cholmondeley wrestle more with their consciences. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025

Earlier this week, footage of federal agents tackling a Venezuelan man in a New Hampshire courthouse — and bulldozing an elderly bystander in the process — was shared by multiple outlets. —Meredith Kile, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bull entry 1 + alteration of dose

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing bulldoze

• bulldoze one's way

Rhymes for bulldoze

• aloes
• arose
• bedclothes
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• compose
• crossbows
• demos
• depose

Kids Definition

bulldoze

verb

bull·​doze ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz 

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