Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

1

bully

play
noun bul·ly \ˈbu̇-lē, ˈbə-\

Definition of bully

plural

bullies

  1. 1a :  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 bullyb :  pimp

  2. 2 :  a hired ruffian

  3. 3 archaic a :  sweetheartb :  a fine chap

From the M-W Editors

wicked
7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'
words-that-used-to-mean-something-different-bully
The Secret History of "Secretary"
alt-594d2b6325245
'Pride': The Word That Went From Vice to Strength
alt-594ab41a604d2
Trending: Kim and Kanye Might Have Hired a Surrogate Mother

Did You Know?

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.

Origin and Etymology of bully

probably from Middle Dutch boele lover; akin to Middle Low German bōle lover, Middle High German buole


First Known Use: 1538

2

bully

adjective bul·ly

Definition of bully

  1. 1 :  excellent —often used in interjectional expressions bully for you

  2. 2 :  resembling or characteristic of a bully his bully tricks

See bully defined for English-language learners

Examples of bully in a Sentence

  1. that's a bully idea for reviving the town's retail center

Origin and Etymology of bully

see 1bully


First Known Use: 1844

bully Synonyms

Synonyms
A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], brag, brave, excellent, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also 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-flight, top-notch, top-of-the-line, topping [chiefly British], top-shelf, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful
Antonyms
atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
Related Words
acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK (or okay), passable, satisfactory, tolerable; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine; classical, standard, traditional
Near Antonyms
bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory; mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate
3

bully

verb bul·ly

Definition of bully

bullied

;

bullying
  1. transitive verb

  2. 1 :  to treat (someone) in a cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive fashion :  to act like a bully toward bullied her younger brother

  3. 2 :  to cause (someone) to do something by means of force or coercion was bullied into accepting their offer

  4. intransitive verb

  5. :  to use language or behavior that is cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive

See bully defined for English-language learners

Examples of bully in a Sentence

  1. He bullied his younger brothers.

  2. children who had been bullied by their father since infancy

Origin and Etymology of bully

see 1bully


First Known Use: 1693

bully Synonyms

Synonyms
brutalize, abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse
Related Words
molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture; burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong; beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)
Near Antonyms
care (for), cherish, foster, nurture; baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

Synonym Discussion of bully

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
4

bully

noun bul·ly

Definition of bully

  1. food :  pickled or canned usually corned beef

Origin and Etymology of bully

probably modification of French (bœuf) boulli boiled beef


First Known Use: 1753

BULLY Defined for English Language Learners

bully

adjective

Definition of bully for English Language Learners

  • —used in phrases like bully for you to express approval or praise especially when the approval or praise is not sincere

bully

verb

Definition of bully for English Language Learners

  • : to frighten, hurt, or threaten (a smaller or weaker person) : to act like a bully toward (someone)

  • : to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force

BULLY Defined for Kids

1

bully

play
noun bul·ly \ˈbu̇-lē\

Definition of bully for Students

plural

bullies

  1. :  a person who teases, hurts, or threatens smaller or weaker persons

2

bully

play
verb bul·ly

Definition of bully for Students

bullied

;

bullying

  1. :  to tease, hurt, or threaten a smaller or weaker person :  to act like a bully toward

Learn More about bully

  1. See words that rhyme with bully Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bully Spanish Central: Translation of bully Nglish: Translation of bully for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bully for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up bully? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

volplane

play

to glide in or as if in an airplane

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. surrogate mother From TMZ to the dictionary.

  2. zealot A fanatical partisan

  3. stonewall to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive

  4. scurrilous Containing obscenities, abuse, or slander

  5. depose That word might not mean what you think it means.

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

bully

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

  • istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us
  • Which is a synonym of garner?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-594d2b6325245
'Pride': The Word That Went From Vice to Strength

Do you take pride in Pride?

image599301899
Pink: The Color that Will Change Your Life

From Fuchsia to Baker-Miller Pink

image2144101468
That Sucks Word Alternatives

Your day is the worst. Your vocabulary is the best.

alt-5931949575ca5
'All the Feels,' All the Time

Once more, with 'feels'

Ask the Editors

decimate-video
Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

serial-comma
The Serial Comma

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us
June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Summer's first WOTD quiz.

Take the quiz
alt-5941ad7527c3c
Yearbook Superlatives Quiz

Is that your picture under "Largest Vocabulary"?

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game
Editor's Note: Did You Know?
Examples: bully in a Sentence
Tip: Synonym Guide