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
In France, politicians can bully journalists, but this is not France. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025 Davis, who is seventy-eight, began to think of Carr, about two decades younger than him, as a bully and a braggart. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
La Ofrenda is actually a Mexican tradition that has nothing to do with offering up daughters as tribute to bullying kings. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 The independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, who has broken stories on national security on his eponymous Substack, has seemingly bullied older congressional staffers into doing more media appearances (or resigning from their jobs outright). Max Tani, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully
Adjective
  • Sabel made the trek and quickly realized the greater need in Sri Lanka and worldwide was for regasification facilities that receive the LNG and covert it back into gas for power generation.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
  • However, critics are still calling for greater transparency surrounding the case.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
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
  • We’re then introduced to Louie, a thug who works for a loan shark, threatening and killing people.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.
    Rabih Alameddine September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Far from abusing its discretion, the district court has exercised care and restraint in managing discovery, affording 'careful consideration' to the government's assertion of privilege.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
  • However, last week, the Civilian Complaint Review Board voted to overrule the investigator who found Alongi and Cianfrocco innocent, finding the pair of officers in violation of using excessive force and abusing their authority.
    Mason Leath, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Benson and other officials have expressed concern that the data could be misused to suppress voting or intimidate voters.
    Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Though murder is the most severe metric, the deaths-only data approach entirely excludes acts of arson, assault, and vandalism, all typical tactics of leftist antifascist militants used to intimidate political opponents and pave the way for a revolution.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Also, the scene where Pi hallucinates blindness and a talking Richard Parker (in French, oddly) is terrific.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
  • However, the display itself turned in a terrific performance.
    Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The president of the United States is now employing the full power of the federal government, the FCC, the Department of Justice, in order to punish, lock up, take down off the air all of his political enemies.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025
  • In various ways, Miller emphasized that Kirk’s enemies don’t know what is coming.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There’d be scenes of Kerr making unlikely comebacks, of his coach delivering big speeches, of an obvious villain becoming his rival.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Star model Elton Ilirjani closed the show in a stunning black and crystal-covered suit with a long, dramatic cape, calling to mind a Dracula-esque villain look.
    Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bully. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.

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