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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bullies
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
The story follows an influencer who gets reincarnated for 28 days and returns to haunt the bullies who drove her to suicide.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
Both clips have drawn widespread praise for showing Gunner in a positive light and defying the stereotype that all XL bullies are inherently dangerous.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
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
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
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
Noun
One reason politicians get such a bad rap is that so many depict themselves as having pure, noble motives on high-profile issues while being unrepentant, undemocratic bullies when there are fewer cameras around.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
The story follows an influencer who gets reincarnated for 28 days and returns to haunt the bullies who drove her to suicide.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
Both clips have drawn widespread praise for showing Gunner in a positive light and defying the stereotype that all XL bullies are inherently dangerous.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullies
Noun
-
While it’s commonly believed that cats and dogs are inherent enemies, the American Kennel Club (AKC) suggests that isn’t always the case.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Militaries are reviving old tactics with new technology, using decoys to confuse enemies and protect real weapons.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 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.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With a name inspired by unity, strength and joy, Zayu transforms on the pitch as a striker, showcasing exceptional ingenuity and agility that intimidates defenders.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
25 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
-
On Tuesday, a total of 300 federal agents stormed a South Side apartment building that Department of Homeland Security officials say harbored criminals.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Columns speculated endlessly about the men in Mary’s life, her engagement to Daniel Payne and her connection to local criminals.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement As many of the best villains do, Ok-seon has a sympathetic backstory.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Developed and released by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc, the game allows players to fight and explore as both heroes and villains from the iconic franchise, following a story mode that takes place in the universe’s Final War arc.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Now is the time to push back in defense of free speech – as strongly and as publicly as the gangsters on the left and right are threatening to revoke it.—
Onkar Ghate,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Unlike Mare, whose community was cloistered and intimate, Task builds a wider world of dealers, gangsters, and thieves, not always to its benefit.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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