bully 1 of 3

bully

2 of 3

noun

bully

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word bully different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of bully are browbeat, bulldoze, cow, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When could browbeat be used to replace bully?

While the synonyms browbeat and bully are close in meaning, browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bulldoze take the place of bully?

In some situations, the words bulldoze and bully are roughly equivalent. However, bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When might cow be a better fit than bully?

The synonyms cow and bully are sometimes interchangeable, but cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

When is it sensible to use intimidate instead of bully?

The words intimidate and bully can be used in similar contexts, but intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

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 bully
Noun
The second season finds Si-eun in a new school, which also has plenty of bullies. Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Even in her small English town, her identity is defined by others: her father, the family business, and her former school bully who is still part of her life. Barry Levitt, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
Do cheating spouses, school bullies and lousy coworkers have bad juju coming to them? Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 1 May 2025 The Trump Administration cannot change the Constitution by bullying and surveilling immigrant communities online. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully
Adjective
  • White Smoke Billows from Vatican Chimney White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the great bells of St. Peter's Basilica rang out on Thursday, signaling that a new pope—the 267th leader of the Catholic Church—had been chosen on the second day of the conclave.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
  • There is seemingly a show for each subgenre for fans of all those great 2000s series.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • There’s no dearth of evil Imperial thugs in Andor — however, one character who seems to exist in a complicated moral gray is Lonni Jung (Robert Emms), a fellow ISB officer who attends Partagaz’s closed-door briefings alongside Dedra but relays the Empire’s plans to Luthen in secret.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Speaking of the stand: The prosecution’s main witness changes her damning testimony against Gomez when one of his thugs — the same guy that was trying to get Noah to get in his car — arrives in court and glares menacingly from the back row.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • For one, the Fed is unconstrained in its printing of dollars and is therefore more likely to abuse that power in its attempt to stabilize the US economy.
    Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • The Context More than 550,000 children are known to be abused in the United States, according to the National Children's Alliance.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • That means people who are counting votes or knocking on doors can’t be intimidated, threatened or coerced.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
  • If mixing up cocktails at home seems intimidating, don't fear—the secret to your new favorite drink might already be in the back of your fridge.
    Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • Comment Wow, what a terrific series finale to Luthen, the acclaimed Disney+ show about the rebel who challenged an Empire, and also all of the other rebels, mostly by lecturing them incessantly.
    Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 14 May 2025
  • Already an Olympic bronze medalist thanks to her play for Team USA's 3 vs. 3 squad at the 2024 Paris games, Van Lith concluded a terrific NCAA career with a final season starring in the Big 12 for Texas Christian University.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Coming from an impoverished family, Ding eagerly took part in public humiliation rallies against teachers, intellectuals, government officials and others labeled as enemies of Mao’s vision.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
  • Asking everyone else to leave, the two enemies have a private conversation that finally gets Faye out of Specter Litt Williams for good.
    Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The filmmaker released a 15-second preview of the trailer, featuring footage of a battle between Superman and a mechanized villain named the Hammer of Boravia.
    Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
  • Frey was the Game of Thrones villain who orchestrated that show’s infamous Red Wedding, a premeditated and highly violent attack on a large group of people that took place during a wedding reception.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump is working to weaponize immigration enforcement to create an increasingly brutal and unaccountable system — one where anyone could be mistreated, denied justice and left without recourse.
    Juan Vargas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025
  • Picasso was known for mistreating the women in his life.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bully. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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