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
But it’s really become this divisive platform where some people use it to bully. Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2025 As the journey unfolds, the bullies are the same, the victims are new, and the shadow of the dead pupil looms over them all. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
Almost 20 pounds heavier than Hall, Allen will bully defenses up the middle and cut into Hall’s usage. Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025 So, thank you for bullying me into getting surgical hair replacement. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully
Adjective
  • By many measures, Alonso was already the greatest home run hitter in Mets history.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
  • There is no greater disparity in the polls than the Sooners checking in at No. 18 in the AP and being the best of the rest among the coaches who voted.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • At least being a thug is more lucrative than being a poet.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • According to reporting from the Clermont Sun, Fike tweeted ‘#thug the new n word’ in April 2015 and ‘Thug life = thug treatment = no pity from me’ in July 2019.
    James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Published in April, the Change Associates review found that a small number of employees continue to abuse their power at the corporation.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
  • His father, a livery man, didn’t understand him, and apparently abused him.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • How to Build a Customer-Centric Supply Chain For smaller companies, this can all sound intimidating.
    Stephen Wunker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • The judge said Peterson must stay at least 100 yards away from Pete and refrain from harassing, intimidating, or threatening her in any way until at least January 9, 2030.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Of the newcomers, Jacinto makes a real impression here as does Hammons, who as Lily is also dealing with the loss of her own mother, and the terrific Butters, who was so good in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and now gets to grow up.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Justine becomes a frequent customer there, hitting the vodka hard and coaxing her occasional hookup, young cop Paul (Alden Ehrenreich, terrific), to slide off the wagon.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Bomarc rockets had jets designed to propel a W40 nuclear warhead into high-flying USSR aircraft, which would detonate in the sky, showering the earth with radioactive debris, neutralizing quite a few enemies of American freedom.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Strategic bombings are a critical component of modern warfare, crippling supply lines, disrupting operations, and breaking enemy morale.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In the preview build, there were two levels: the streets of New York culminating in a fight with the villain Beetle, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier that ends with a showdown with Taskmaster.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Each villain’s legacy led to the establishment of a specific dormitory at Night Raven College, creating distinct magical communities within the academy.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The filing points to other high-profile instances when CDCR employees were harassed, threatened and mistreated by other officers.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • However, an article in The Sunday Times has accused the king of mistreating gardeners employed by his charity, The King's Foundation, which manages the estate's gardens.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bully. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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