bully 1 of 3

Definition of bullynext

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
In the Chief Clarence Dickson Police College auditorium, nine Miami-Dade students were recognized Wednesday morning for stepping up in critical moments such as protecting classmates against bullies and reporting suicidal behavior. Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026 But the finale ‘Tragedy & Flies’, now available to stream on Paramount+, proves that first impressions are not always correct, as Paigyn keeps Ainsley from developing an injury during cheer camp, and the cheerleader returns the favor by defending her new friend from anti-LGBTQ bullies. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
The girlfriend of a 17-year-old boy who was shot and killed after leaving school on Thursday afternoon in west suburban Cicero said the attack was the result of bullying. Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026 Military might and bullying never made any country great. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully
Adjective
  • The Lincoln Square condo, which combined a prewar aesthetic and prime location on the park with all the advantages of a new-construction condo, turned the clubby, co-op-centric world of New York real estate into a speculative game for global billionaires.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The move came after The Dallas Morning News contacted West about the event, considering Washburne’s recent proposal to move City Hall and repurpose its prime downtown site, including for a possible arena.
    Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Michael Malone, during his Nuggets days, was a genius at creating enemies, of underlining slights that may or may not have ever been real.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Hurt by Israel’s large-scale infiltration and strikes last year, Iran’s regime moved swiftly to brand those demanding change as enemies of the state.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Minnesotans, not the armed thugs of ICE and the Border Patrol, are brave.
    Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Actively inserting yourself into and attempting to stymie federal law enforcement or barging into a church, as some of these thugs did in Minneapolis, is hindering law enforcement and trespassing, respectively.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said Kayode Agbolade Ogunba allegedly abused patients at a local care home.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The victim-survivor in this case was not the only child Weberman abused.
    Guila Benchimol, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Ryan Thornton, 37, of Racine, was initially charged in October in Dane County with stalking and misdemeanor counts of intimidating a victim and disorderly conduct.
    CBS News, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet, and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • There are plenty of great restaurants, but alongside them disappointments.
    Kate Krader, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Another 2022 study from Rutgers University, focused on COVID-19 news, found that greater daily exposure to news about the virus was linked to higher same-day and next-day worry about the pandemic as well as feelings of hopelessness and general worry.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 28 Jan. 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
  • Picking winners and losers, heroes and villains, pathways to success and failure, generates excitement for an event and manufactures a sense of urgency for maximal viewing pleasure.
    Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
  • What the late Ka did to build resolve against the unforgiving brutalities of Brownsville, Marci combines with the flair of a Bond villain and contempt for anyone attempting to copy his mold.
    Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bully. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on bully

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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