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

Israel Defense Forces allegedly bulldozed over a journalists' tent during its raid on Al-Shifa's medical complex and they were forced to surrender, al-Ghoul said following his release. —NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024

Aggressive winds bulldozed their way through the Sacramento region over the weekend, cutting power to thousands of people, temporarily suspending light rail services and toppling trees. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2024

In December at Little Caesars Arena, the game turned ugly in the first period; in Sweden in mid-November, the Wings had to rally from a four-goal deficit to earn a point; in February of last year, in Ottawa, the Wings were bulldozed in back-to-back outings. —Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 30 Jan. 2024

These structures would be bulldozed to clear the way for the project. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024

Trump bulldozed through earlier states, including Haley’s own South Carolina. —Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024

The process is six to eight times costlier than bulldozing the waste into a hole in the ground, Mr. McQuillan estimated, although Triumvirate recoups some costs from the sale of the final products. —Ted Alcorn, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024

Her husband bulldozed the building and reduced it to rubble forever. —Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024

In 2018, the tech company bulldozed the newspaper’s former newsroom building. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024

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

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