BULLDOZE Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'bulldoze' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of bulldoze are browbeat , bully , cow , and intimidate . While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats. // bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

Q: When can 'browbeat' be used instead of 'bulldoze'?

The words browbeat and bulldoze can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment. // browbeat the witness into a contradiction

Q: In what contexts can 'bully' take the place of 'bulldoze'?

While the synonyms bully and bulldoze are close in meaning, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior. // bullied into giving up their lunch money

Q: When is it sensible to use 'cow' instead of 'bulldoze'?

Although the words cow and bulldoze have much in common, 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

Q: When might 'intimidate' be a better fit than 'bulldoze'?

The words intimidate and bulldoze are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another. // intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

bulldoze

verb

ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz

Definition of bulldoze next

as in to push

to force one's way bulldozed through the crowd at the arena, urgently trying to find the bathroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to intimidate

to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats one of those gatherings at which high-pressure sales reps try to bulldoze naive people into buying time-shares

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of bulldoze are browbeat, bully, cow, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When can browbeat be used instead of bulldoze?

The words browbeat and bulldoze can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bully take the place of bulldoze?

While the synonyms bully and bulldoze are close in meaning, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When is it sensible to use cow instead of bulldoze?

Although the words cow and bulldoze have much in common, 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 might intimidate be a better fit than bulldoze?

The words intimidate and bulldoze are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 bulldoze But that was before The Penguin bulldozed its way into the landscape as the buzziest new show of the fall. —

Nate Jones, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025 But the place comes to life as museum co-founder Sandra Maria Teixeira tells of houses being bulldozed, standoffs with the police, and the victory of the 20 families who were eventually given the right to remain in the area. —

Constance Malleret, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2024 Yoon seemed to gamble that martial law might enable him to bulldoze his agenda into reality. —

William Pesek, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 The man and Holland were among 195 Black and Latino families whose homes were bulldozed and burned to the ground with little-to-no notice in the late 1950s and early ’60s. —

Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bulldoze

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulldoze

Verb

The effect can potentially push the person into sending money or following demands from the scammers.

— Matt Burgess, WIRED, 27 Jan. 2025
So far, the fire was not pushing its way up toward us.

— M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025