1
as in enemies
a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable persons
the school has a procedure for students who want to report problems with bullies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the local loan shark and his bullies have ways of making people pay up
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in abuses
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intimidates
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
the manager was fired for bullying employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bullies
Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
After deciding to take his family to a tourist town for some fun in the sun, a minor encounter with local bullies yanks the family into the crosshairs of an unhinged, blood-thirsty crime boss (Sharon Stone), who is determined to derail his relaxation.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
The film takes its name from a story that Manfred relied on as a means of coping with childhood bullies, about a tribe of vikings who each cut off one of their arms in order to make one brother who lost his arm in battle feel less alone.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2025
Melvin is tormented by a quartet of bullies and ends up falling out of a second-story window into a drum of toxic waste.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
Things take a dark turn, however, when Zoza becomes the new target of the bullies’ ire, trapping the young teen in a recurring cycle of violence.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
As the journey unfolds, the bullies are the same, the victims are new, and the shadow of the dead pupil looms over them all.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
The witness said young bullies frequently gather in the park.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
But some ornamental grasses can be bullies in the garden, spreading rapidly and edging out other plants—including important natives.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
Drea teams up with outsider and unlikely friend, Eleanor (Hawke, the daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman), to retaliate against their bullies in 2022's witty and heartfelt Do Revenge.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
After deciding to take his family to a tourist town for some fun in the sun, a minor encounter with local bullies yanks the family into the crosshairs of an unhinged, blood-thirsty crime boss (Sharon Stone), who is determined to derail his relaxation.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
The film takes its name from a story that Manfred relied on as a means of coping with childhood bullies, about a tribe of vikings who each cut off one of their arms in order to make one brother who lost his arm in battle feel less alone.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2025
Melvin is tormented by a quartet of bullies and ends up falling out of a second-story window into a drum of toxic waste.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
Things take a dark turn, however, when Zoza becomes the new target of the bullies’ ire, trapping the young teen in a recurring cycle of violence.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
As the journey unfolds, the bullies are the same, the victims are new, and the shadow of the dead pupil looms over them all.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
The witness said young bullies frequently gather in the park.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
But some ornamental grasses can be bullies in the garden, spreading rapidly and edging out other plants—including important natives.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullies
Noun
-
Dealing with internal conflicts of identity while being threatened by external enemies is not unique to Israel.—
Ron Scherf,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
-
In the scope of housework, hard water stains are high on the list of public enemies in my home.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As night falls, armed thugs roam the streets and families pick up guns to protect themselves.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But outside of the ring, Christy hides and represses her lesbianism and winds up marrying her trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who manipulates and physically abuses her.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 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
-
Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Her Eco-Age consultancy, targeted by criminals and forced to close in 2024 after 17 years in business, had advised clients on industry developments, changes to government policies and practical guidance on how to avoid greenwashing.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There are villains in every episode and the story uses them to showcase some societal issues.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Eugene Domingo stars as Mauricia, a disrespected restaurant worker who, while watching soap operas one night, gets sucked through her TV screen into a training academy for villains.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Others are new, building on a genuinely fresh and funny revelation that explains not only a cold open involving yakuza gangsters half a world away in Osaka, but also why this quaint town is sitting on a stash of weaponry big enough to overthrow the governments of several small nations.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Inspired by the colonial Singapore gangsters rulers, four girls, at a modern-day regimented elite secondary school form their own gang cam-recording petty acts of rebellion, led by firebrand freethinking lesbian Choo Xin Yu.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket NFL fans can make out like bandits with the DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were cast as the bumbling but dogged bandits, Harry and Marv, and Catherine O’Hara brought humor and compassion to the part of Kevin’s mother.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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