Synonym Chooser

How is the word bulldoze different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of bulldoze are browbeat, bully, cow, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When can browbeat be used instead of bulldoze?

The words browbeat and bulldoze can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bully take the place of bulldoze?

While the synonyms bully and bulldoze are close in meaning, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When is it sensible to use cow instead of bulldoze?

Although the words cow and bulldoze have much in common, 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

When might intimidate be a better fit than bulldoze?

The words intimidate and bulldoze are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bulldoze 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 See All Example Sentences for bulldoze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulldoze
Verb
  • Video footage from the incident showed Padilla pushed to the ground and handcuffed outside the door while attempting to speak to Noem during the conference.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • In the middle of his testimony, Forbes published a story explaining how Weisselberg had helped Trump push the lie for years.
    Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • In her June 22 decision, Holmes said the government’s claims that Abrego Garcia is a gang member and could intimidate or threaten witnesses are based on vague statements of cooperating witnesses.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • How Unions are Stepping in to Fill Governance Gaps Unions have observed that many workers feel intimidated by the technical nature of AI and are uneasy when discussing their concerns with their employers.
    Oludolapo Makinde, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Paul Blackburn, with plenty of starting experience for Oakland, could squeeze into the picture too – especially if the Mets decide to try a six-man rotation that would save wear and tear on each man.
    Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • When pancake is ready to flip, squeeze the cinnamon mixture into a swirl shape on top of the pancake batter, pressing the tip of the bag slightly into the batter.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 27 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Bulldoze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bulldoze. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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