bully 1 of 3

bully

2 of 3

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
Those outbursts, animated by the studio Bones, are some of the most spectacular of any anime this past decade — such as an early confrontation with a terrorist in which Mob grabs a bully by the face and takes him high into the air before crashing back down to earth like a meteor. Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025 The Celtics also handled the Magic’s bully ball especially well in the final two games of the series. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
Growing up with a single mother in Dayton, Ohio, Eleni explains that she was bullied for thrifting during her childhood and is overjoyed to see a new generation embrace it. Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025 Her followers marched in drinking institutions and demanded change and many of the disgruntled or bullied patrons signed statements of temperance. Arkansas Online, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully
Adjective
  • In fact, 89% of C-suite marketers recognize that employees can bring great value to their businesses as influencers.
    Sarah Goodall, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Even in Paris, this would make a great evening bag and match practically any outfit.
    Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • There’s no dearth of evil Imperial thugs in Andor — however, one character who seems to exist in a complicated moral gray is Lonni Jung (Robert Emms), a fellow ISB officer who attends Partagaz’s closed-door briefings alongside Dedra but relays the Empire’s plans to Luthen in secret.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Speaking of the stand: The prosecution’s main witness changes her damning testimony against Gomez when one of his thugs — the same guy that was trying to get Noah to get in his car — arrives in court and glares menacingly from the back row.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • For one, the Fed is unconstrained in its printing of dollars and is therefore more likely to abuse that power in its attempt to stabilize the US economy.
    Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • There are players who abused steroids, served their penalty and are now back in the game.
    John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Democrats have said the Trump administration is trying to intimidate them out of performing their role overseeing how the executive branch implements laws.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • The guys who are willing to intimidate by hurting people will always win.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Even with challenging oppositions, Siakam has been terrific throughout the playoffs.
    Tony East, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • The second half of the film is simpler and stronger, with a terrific supporting performance by ASAP Rocky as a rapper named Yung Felon.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The absence of cloud cover that day exposed the Liberators even more to enemy fire.
    Linda Dudik, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
  • The team cites the cosmic horror vibes of movies like Prometheus and the encroaching threat of intimidating enemies such as the Zerg from StarCraft as key inspirations for the game world.
    David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Perhaps this is why it was never required viewing in my household; there was no darker notion than our hero potentially being a villain.
    Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
  • But the new villain is smarter than the IMF assumed, and the mission has disastrous results.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump is working to weaponize immigration enforcement to create an increasingly brutal and unaccountable system — one where anyone could be mistreated, denied justice and left without recourse.
    Juan Vargas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025
  • Picasso was known for mistreating the women in his life.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bully. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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