bully 1 of 3

Definition of bullynext

bully

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noun

bully

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of bully are browbeat, bulldoze, cow, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When could browbeat be used to replace bully?

While the synonyms browbeat and bully are close in meaning, browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bulldoze take the place of bully?

In some situations, the words bulldoze and bully are roughly equivalent. However, bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When might cow be a better fit than bully?

The synonyms cow and bully are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 is it sensible to use intimidate instead of bully?

The words intimidate and bully can be used in similar contexts, but 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 bully
Noun
In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Only this time, alongside messages wishing for wealth and health is the signature grin of the blond bully from Hogwarts school. Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Is her brother’s bullying over their mother’s care enough cause to cut contact with him? R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026 The young boy then has to navigate being 10 and being bullied, having crushes on girls, all while older siblings Yvette (Essence Atkins) and Marcus (Jason Weaver) cringe at the thought of him being at the same high school. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully
Adjective
  • They're arranged in haphazard rows, with Andrew Jackson occupying a prime front spot simply because the owner likes his hair.
    Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Thaksin could be eligible for parole in May, his nephew is the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Xenomorphs, meanwhile, tried to overwhelm humans and Yautja with a mix of speed and stealth (camping while glued to a ceiling to jump-scare enemies never got old).
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 15 Feb. 2026
  • And, perhaps most importantly, we are feared by the enemies all over the globe.
    WILL WEISSERT, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In a season 3 teaser, Peter saves Suraj Sharma's Jay Batra from some thugs at a soccer stadium.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Foucauld had later left the army to become a Trappist monk and had established himself as a missionary in Tamanrasset, Algeria, in the middle of the Sahara Desert; he was killed there by local thugs in 1916.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Construction is set to begin on a new center in Morgan Hill for abused and neglected children and their families next month.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Once installed, NexShield immediately starts abusing Chrome or Edge in the background.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The goal was to intimidate the family into not competing in the Beijing Games.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The grand jury indictment charged Lemon and eight others with conspiracy against right of religious freedom at place of worship and another count of working to injure, intimidate or interfere with the exercise the right of religious freedom at a place of worship.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Suites with interconnecting doors across the balcony are a great choice for larger families, and most regular activities include child-friendly options, like the beginner’s surfing classes in calmer waves or toddler bikes for cycling along the nature reserve.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
  • There is a fantastic Lam retrospective at the Modern Museum of Art, but Scott had the idea months before and went to great lengths to convince Lam’s estate to collaborate.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • All the while, Sarah is being hunted by corporate intimidators Dawson (Sam Worthington) and Rosetti (Willa Fitzgerald), who want to ensure her silence.
    EW.com, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Even the Dodgers, the cartoon villains of spending, kind of sort of have a limit.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • And Salieri seems more of hybrid creature, as though a villain out of Christopher Marlowe had suddenly been endowed with Shakespearean self-awareness.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bully. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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