bully

1 of 4

noun (1)

bul·​ly ˈbu̇-lē 

ˈbə-

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

archaic

a

: sweetheart

b

: a fine chap

bully

2 of 4

verb

bullied; bullying

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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

bully

3 of 4

adjective

1

: excellent

—often used in interjectional expressions

bully for you

2

: resembling or characteristic of a bully

his bully tricks

bully

4 of 4

noun (2)

food : pickled or canned usually corned beef

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)

• intimidator
• enemy
• abuser
• harasser
• thug

Verb

• abuse
• mistreat

Adjective

• great
• terrific
• excellent
• lovely
• wonderful
• awesome
• prime
• beautiful
• superb
• fabulous
• fantastic
• stellar
• fine
• hot
• brave
• marvellous
• famous
• marvelous
• boss [slang]
• classic
• top
• superior
• mean
• cool [slang]
• too much
• slick
• quality

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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

Noun

Raised in poverty, slugged by an anti-Spanish language teacher, jumped by Anglo bullies, wracked by childhood illnesses, Jesse held dear to his mother’s encouragement to pray often, work hard, and stay positive. —Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2025

Envision this: Your daughter is having a heart-to-heart with her Barbie doll about school bullies, family secrets and her deepest fears. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

Verb

In the extreme, influencers are building social-media empires by bullying women into cutting calories and exercising for hours a day. —Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025

One more user reminded viewers to learn from the online bullying fellow islander Huda Mustafa, a 24-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, faced earlier in the season. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1), Verb, and Adjective

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

Noun (2)

probably modification of French (bœuf) boulli boiled beef

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

1685, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1753, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bully

• bully pulpit
• cry-bully

Rhymes for bully

• fully
• pulley
• woolly
• wooly

Kids 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