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
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 bullies
Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
The school now plans on pulling the bullies from class, involving their parents and opening up a bullying investigation.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
To address this, the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) was founded in 2004 to register bullies and similar breeds.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
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
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
Noun
At the slightest provocation, Ye bullies, hectors, and screams at everyone from Paris fashion-show lackeys to the mother of his child.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
The school now plans on pulling the bullies from class, involving their parents and opening up a bullying investigation.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
To address this, the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) was founded in 2004 to register bullies and similar breeds.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullies
Noun
-
Lewis Tan led the 2021 film as Cole Young, an MMA fighter facing off against Outworld enemies in a high-stakes battle for the universe.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Add to that the influence of social media or Discord forums offering immediate validation, and young possible perpetrators can come away thinking their enemies deserve to die.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In The Big Lebowski, thugs mistake the titular slacker (Bridges) for the wealthy Jeffrey Lebowski, sending him on a wild investigation with his pal Walter (John Goodman) into a ransom plot involving Lebowski’s young wife (Tara Reid).—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 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
-
Bowles abuses those pass-blocking rules by stunting the three-technique, Logan Hall (90), across the left guard's face, knowing the guard will follow him.—
Derrik Klassen,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
Flock Safety argues its drone system can act as a deterrent simply by being visible, making criminals think twice before targeting a store.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
So those drums can fall into the hands of criminals who then refill them with the cheaper, toxic liquids and pass them off as the pharmaceutical-grade product, selling them to drug manufacturers who are looking to save money on ingredients.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The tournaments pit heroes like Liu Kang, Raiden, and Sonya Blade against such villains as Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, and Scorpion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Despite being grouped together with the villains who slashed their way through the ’80s (and, to a lesser extent, the ’90s), Freddy has always been unique.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Two sisters with a tragic story are said to linger upstairs at Langston’s Western Wear, and unexplained voices and rattling glassware have been heard at Gabriella’s Italian Grill, a Prohibition-era building with a gangsters and gambling history.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
-
In those times, young people who self-described as gangsters fought for territory, and one of their subversive acts was to tag the walls of the city with the verses of cumbia songs.—
Karla Gachet,
NPR,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share