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
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 instructor reminds the class to be a buddy not a bully and everyone hears your dad snort. Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
After getting picked apart by Texas A&M and bullied by Miami, the defense’s performance against one of the Big Ten’s doormats should have been better. Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025 Some aspects of Wolfe’s story really spoke to James, especially Wolfe’s resilience and courage in the face of ugly misogyny and bullying tech bros. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully
Adjective
  • Sabel made the trek and quickly realized the greater need in Sri Lanka and worldwide was for regasification facilities that receive the LNG and covert it back into gas for power generation.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
  • However, critics are still calling for greater transparency surrounding the case.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 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
  • We’re then introduced to Louie, a thug who works for a loan shark, threatening and killing people.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 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
  • There were ugly scenes at the Bethpage golf course throughout yesterday’s second day of play as European players, McIlroy in particular, were routinely heckled and abused by rowdy fans, including while standing over shots.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The lawsuit further alleges that the airlines manipulated and abused the arrival rate system at DCA airport to force more arrivals per hour, despite knowing that doing so would reduce safety margins.
    Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Benson and other officials have expressed concern that the data could be misused to suppress voting or intimidate voters.
    Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Though murder is the most severe metric, the deaths-only data approach entirely excludes acts of arson, assault, and vandalism, all typical tactics of leftist antifascist militants used to intimidate political opponents and pave the way for a revolution.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Also, the scene where Pi hallucinates blindness and a talking Richard Parker (in French, oddly) is terrific.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
  • However, the display itself turned in a terrific performance.
    Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There’s even a little Kurosawa — from all the stages of his career — in the feudal set-up; while the decadent emperor Kisra (Ben Kingsley) holds court, his enemies are banished.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The eight-part series depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, chronicling how two former allies would eventually become enemies in their fight for control of the English throne.
    Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • She's gone toe to toe with Marvel villains, T-rexes and Bill Murray.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Race is one of many concerns in Vineland, but One Battle After Another sets itself apart as a studio film with vividly, absurdly ugly racist villains, arguing satirically but unflinchingly that white supremacy continues to be the guiding principle for American power.
    Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bully. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

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