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
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
Robert Kelker-Kelly is one of those bullies.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Feb. 2026
The screen fades to black, and then, seconds later, Kid and the bullies are on their knees with their hands behind their heads, facing a cop who has his gun drawn.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
There are plenty of anthropological accounts of skillful people earning social status and bullies being quickly cut down.
—Thomas Morgan, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
That said, women account for roughly 30% to 35% of workplace bullies.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One of Hardy's victims, who went only by the pseudonym Melanie, told The Guardian that in school, Hardy was a target for bullies and seemed lonely.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The only one who cares about Pits is her young brother, who was horribly disfigured in a fire and is the target of bullies.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
There’s always a mean kid in your class who bullies everybody else.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The Bullies Versus The Bullied Studies show that men make up around 65% to 70% of workplace bullies overall, which researchers argue is in alignment with broader power disparities, as men continue to hold a majority of senior leadership roles.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
Iran lies, cheats, blusters and bullies.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
Robert Kelker-Kelly is one of those bullies.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Feb. 2026
The screen fades to black, and then, seconds later, Kid and the bullies are on their knees with their hands behind their heads, facing a cop who has his gun drawn.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
There are plenty of anthropological accounts of skillful people earning social status and bullies being quickly cut down.
—Thomas Morgan, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
That said, women account for roughly 30% to 35% of workplace bullies.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One of Hardy's victims, who went only by the pseudonym Melanie, told The Guardian that in school, Hardy was a target for bullies and seemed lonely.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The only one who cares about Pits is her young brother, who was horribly disfigured in a fire and is the target of bullies.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
There’s always a mean kid in your class who bullies everybody else.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The Bullies Versus The Bullied Studies show that men make up around 65% to 70% of workplace bullies overall, which researchers argue is in alignment with broader power disparities, as men continue to hold a majority of senior leadership roles.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
-
Shakespeare’s fierce and primal tragedy follows the celebrated warrior who knows how to conquer enemies but not how to win hearts.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Encouraging Natural Predators Attracting the natural enemies of moles to your yard might not work overnight but pays great dividends in the long run.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Democrats, though, have no problems releasing all these bloodthirsty thugs back into the neighborhood.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
In a season 3 teaser, Peter saves Suraj Sharma's Jay Batra from some thugs at a soccer stadium.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The insurer said during a Senate committee hearing that Nutex abuses the independent dispute resolution process, which was intended by the federal No Surprises Act to be a last resort in cases where providers and health insurers can’t agree on what should be paid for out-of-network care.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The River Is Waiting follows Corby, a dad laid off from his job in an advertising firm’s art department, who secretly drinks 100-proof rum and abuses prescription medication while caring for his twin 2-year-olds.—
Eric Magnuson,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Maybe her coolness intimidates them, or her green eyes.—
Rodrigo Hasbún,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
If French wine intimidates you, this is the perfect place to get over that fear.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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
-
Whatley said those policies threaten law enforcement officers and public safety, arguing that criminals belong behind bars and pledging to continue backing law enforcement.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The decisive action of the Mexican government is positive for families on both sides of the border who suffer the devastating consequences of the activities of these transnational criminals.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By dismissing shooters as incomprehensible villains, Peterson says, families and communities may miss warning signs in the young people around them.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
In the finale, Muck takes the fall for Tender while the true villains get away.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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