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 Sorelle’s gentle beauty of a film is no downer, reflecting a resilient culture that refuses to be bulldozed over to make way for luxury homes. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024 However, this doesn’t mean bulldozing over your peers. Chad Angle, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024 Far-right extremist groups warn on social media that officials plan to bulldoze affected communities and seize the land from residents. David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2024 Far-right extremist groups falsely warn on social media that officials plan to bulldoze affected communities and seize the land. David Klepper, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bulldoze 

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 3 Nov. 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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