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.
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Recent Examples of bullies
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
The Hoosiers are the bad guys, the bullies come to take your pride and your lunch money, albeit politely.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
On the opposite sideline was Vrabel, who brought an undermanned and overmatched Tennessee Titans team to New England and took down the league’s bullies of two decades.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Research shows that bullies and their targets do poorly in school, often dropping out before earning a high-school diploma.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Along the way, the group must contend with the natural world, bullies, their families, and the problems that come with growing up.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
After Momo saves Okarun from bullies, an argument erupts between the ghost-believing Momo and the alien-believing Okarun.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Dec. 2025
The famous bullies attack boats and pester other animals for reasons that sometimes aren’t entirely clear.
—Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2025
The loyal troupe fought with bullies and acted out Smith’s tales, some of which were loosely based on her favorite books (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Little Women, Nancy Drew).
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Cipher bullies other characters across the season about their powers, but because of Andre and Polarity’s degenerative abilities, this underscores the eugenics behind his beliefs.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
In December 2023, XL bullies were added to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
The Hoosiers are the bad guys, the bullies come to take your pride and your lunch money, albeit politely.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
On the opposite sideline was Vrabel, who brought an undermanned and overmatched Tennessee Titans team to New England and took down the league’s bullies of two decades.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Research shows that bullies and their targets do poorly in school, often dropping out before earning a high-school diploma.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Along the way, the group must contend with the natural world, bullies, their families, and the problems that come with growing up.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
After Momo saves Okarun from bullies, an argument erupts between the ghost-believing Momo and the alien-believing Okarun.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Dec. 2025
The famous bullies attack boats and pester other animals for reasons that sometimes aren’t entirely clear.
—Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2025
The loyal troupe fought with bullies and acted out Smith’s tales, some of which were loosely based on her favorite books (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Little Women, Nancy Drew).
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Henry Bowers is the local punk who relentlessly bullies the Losers' Club and later falls under the spell of Pennywise.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Cipher bullies other characters across the season about their powers, but because of Andre and Polarity’s degenerative abilities, this underscores the eugenics behind his beliefs.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullies
Noun
-
This season takes a hellish turn, as our caveman protagonist encounters undead and other paranormal enemies.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
After all, there’s no better place to get inspo for an underdog story or an enemies-to-lovers rom-com than the freakin’ Olympics.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
In this black comedy adapted from the graphic novel, when a bunch of thugs come to her door demanding that Paige’s grandfather (Liam Neeson) help them out with a bank heist, Paige decides to rescue him by doing it herself, with her friends.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the film, Victor emotionally abuses the Creature.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Independent groups like Human Rights Watch say the Venezuelan government intimidates human rights advocates, arrests and detains protesters and harasses journalists.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Before his luck runs out, Robert is saved by a very pissed off Blonde Blazer, who intimidates Shroud’s crew with the bluff of backup, or at least killing half the gang.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 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
-
In a news release announcing the signature petition, backers of the measure featured quotes from prominent Colorado and national Democrats supporting deporting violent criminals, though none have apparently endorsed this specific measure.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
-
This is the justification for the administration’s desire to deport criminals, persons who have truly harmed others by breaking laws.—
Scott Santarosa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Baker says what frightens her most is whether younger generations will ever be able to step off that wheel — to build generational wealth through homeownership.—
Elizabeth Prann,
The Hill,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Within my book, one of the things that frightens me most is the fact that with censorship, there’s often not a clear red line, right?—
Fiction Non Fiction
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Like most great villains, these are often characters who see their actions as justified.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
No other accessories or villains are included.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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