BULLY Synonyms: 318 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bully 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of bully next

as in great

of the very best kind that's a bully idea for reviving the town's retail center

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bully

2 of 3

noun

ˈbu̇-lē

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

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

bully

3 of 3

verb

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples 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

Experts have two primary methods for handling bullies, and both involve more work for humans. —

Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024 Jenny found Gerry intelligent and amusing but also a blowhard and a bully. —

Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

Verb

But 22 years in the NBA have provided a template for how to bully smaller players, the Pistons hunting the smaller Lakers with Cade Cunningham and Detroit’s younger, stronger and tougher players battering them for a 117-114 win. —

Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024 Unfortunately for them, Steph won’t be bullied – even by paternalistic threats of being sued into oblivion. —

Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bully

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bully

Adjective

Finance chief Amy Hood said in October that revenue growth from Microsoft’s Azure cloud will speed up in the first half of this year because of greater AI infrastructure capacity.

Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
Trump sides with Elon Musk on H-1B visas following criticism: 'A great program' 'Fox & Friends' co-hosts weigh in on the debate over H-1B visas, which allow U.S. companies to hire foreign workers for specialty jobs, after Elon Musk and President-elect Trump expressed support for the program.

Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025