Synonyms of bully

bully 1 of 3

adjective

as in great

of the very best kind

that's a bully idea for reviving the town's retail center

Synonyms & Similar Words

• great
• terrific
• excellent
• lovely
• wonderful
• awesome
• prime
• beautiful
• superb
• fabulous
• fantastic
• stellar
• fine
• hot
• brave
• marvellous
• famous
• marvelous
• boss
• classic
• top
• superior
• mean
• cool
• too much
• slick
• quality
• cracking
• frontline
• par excellence
• choice
• neat
• out of this world
• wizard
• good
• heavenly
• dandy
• divine
• down
• keen
• topping
• swell
• noble
• blue-chip
• high-class
• banner
• brag
• sensational
• grand
• prize
• dynamite
• gone
• dope
• righteous
• better
• first-string
• bumper
• first-class
• sterling
• peachy
• number one
• exceptional
• radical
• superlative
• blue-ribbon
• out-of-sight
• first-rate
• capital
• immense
• crackerjack
• splendid
• No. 1
• unsurpassed
• decent
• okay
• A1
• acceptable
• top-shelf
• topflight
• top-notch
• fab
• groovy
• primo
• gangbusters
• hype
• gangbuster
• bonny
• phat
• bonnie
• peachy keen
• supernal
• nifty
• numero uno
• prizewinning
• corking
• A-OK
• all right
• boffo
• gilt-edge
• five-star
• bang-up
• jim-dandy
• special
• adequate
• tip-top
• satisfactory
• top-of-the-line
• OK
• four-star
• fantabulous
• traditional
• tolerable
• select
• fancy
• classical
• standard
• gilt-edged
• premium
• high-grade
• passable
• high-test
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• pathetic
• vile
• terrible
• awful
• rotten
• wretched
• lousy
• bad
• inferior
• atrocious
• unsatisfactory
• low-grade
• substandard
• execrable
• second-class
• mediocre
• middling
• second-rate

bully

2 of 3

noun

ˈbu̇-lē 

1

as in intimidator

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

• intimidator
• enemy
• abuser
• harasser
• thug
• hector
• bullyboy
• torturer
• gangster
• antagonist
• oppressor
• rough
• tough
• hoodlum
• heckler
• ruffian
• hooligan
• persecutor
• mocker
• goon
• tease
• hood
• baiter
• racketeer
• harrier
• taunter
• rowdy
• cutthroat
• roughneck
• punk
• mobster
• felon
• ridiculer
• toughie
• giber
• needler
• teaser
• jiber
• gunman
• toughy
• mug

2

as in thug

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

• thug
• villain
• criminal
• gangster
• tough
• pirate
• bandit
• thief
• hoodlum
• offender
• assassin
• ruffian
• hooligan
• gorilla
• goon
• mobster
• rowdy
• hood
• gangsta
• punk
• gangbanger
• roughneck
• toughie
• yob
• perpetrator
• yobbo
• plug-ugly
• toughy
• scoundrel
• cutthroat
• outlaw
• robber
• crook
• perp
• felon
• mug
• lawbreaker
• brigand
• swindler
• mafioso
• racketeer
• vandal
• pickpocket
• desperado
• gunman
• malefactor
• highwayman
• bravo
• juvenile delinquent
• tearaway

bully

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to abuse

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon

the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abuse
• mistreat
• oppress
• torture
• manhandle
• injure
• brutalize
• take apart
• hurt
• maltreat
• harass
• persecute
• misuse
• violate
• ill-treat
• mishandle
• molest
• ill-use
• mess over
• torment
• kick around
• victimize
• harm
• outrage
• wrong
• work (over)
• sandbag
• beat (up)
• rough (up)
• burn
• mess (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• care (for)
• foster
• nurture
• cherish
• baby
• favor
• cater (to)
• spoil
• gratify
• indulge
• humor
• coddle
• mollycoddle
• pamper

2

as in to intimidate

to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

the manager was fired for bullying employees

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intimidate
• frighten
• scare
• coerce
• strong-arm
• browbeat
• startle
• cow
• bulldoze
• harass
• badger
• pick on
• threaten
• hector
• bullyrag
• shock
• bogart
• terrorize
• blackjack
• terrify
• pressure
• bluster
• spook
• menace
• force
• hound
• bludgeon
• compel
• horrify
• trash-talk
• alarm
• affright
• disturb
• upset
• constrain
• push around
• oblige
• distress
• unnerve
• demoralize
• dragoon
• disconcert
• perturb
• press
• psych (out)
• make
• unman
• alarum
• discompose
• disquiet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassure
• cheer
• comfort
• soothe
• steel
• console
• encourage
• convince
• persuade
• solace
• embolden
• hearten

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

Recent Examples of bully

Noun

The oldest and richest college in America wasn’t the first targeted by the White House, that was Columbia, but while Columbia bowed down to the bully, Harvard is resisting. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025

The tall and rangy Lincoln, strengthened by physical labor, was an expert wrestler who was not afraid of bullies. —John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Verb

Almost overnight, the United States went from competing with its aggressive adversaries to bullying its mild-mannered allies. —Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Without appropriate treatment, people with mild autism may feel excluded, rejected, or even bullied by others. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2025