bully

1 of 4

noun (1)

bul·ly ˈbu̇-lē How to pronounce bully (audio)

ˈbə-

plural bullies

: a blustering, browbeating person

especially : one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable

tormented by the neighborhood bully

: pimp

: a hired ruffian

archaic

: sweetheart

: a fine chap

bully

2 of 4

verb

bullied; bullying

transitive verb

: to treat (someone) in a cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive fashion : to act like a bully toward

bullied her younger brother

: to cause (someone) to do something by means of force or coercion

was bullied into accepting their offer

intransitive verb

: to use language or behavior that is cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive

bully

3 of 4

adjective

: excellent

—often used in interjectional expressions

bully for you

: resembling or characteristic of a bully

his bully tricks

bully

4 of 4

noun (2)

food : pickled or canned usually corned beef

Synonyms

Noun (1)

bullyboy
hector
intimidator

Verb

abuse
brutalize
ill-treat
ill-use
kick around
maltreat
manhandle
mess over [slang]
mishandle
mistreat
misuse

Adjective

A-OK
A1
awesome
bang-up
banner
beautiful
blue-chip
blue-ribbon
boffo
bonny [chiefly British]
bonnie
boss [slang]
brag
brave
bumper
capital
choice
classic
cool [slang]
corking
crackerjack
cracking
dandy
divine
dope [slang]
down [slang]
dynamite
excellent
fab
fabulous
famous
fantabulous [slang]
fantastic
fine
first-class
first-rate
first-string
five-star
four-star
frontline
gangbusters
gangbuster
gilt-edged
gilt-edge
gone [slang]
grand
great
groovy
heavenly
high-class
hot
hype [slang]
immense
jim-dandy
keen
lovely
marvelous
marvellous
mean
neat
nifty
noble
number one
No. 1
numero uno
out-of-sight [slang]
par excellence
peachy
peachy keen
phat [slang]
prime
primo [slang]
prize
prizewinning
quality
radical [slang]
righteous [slang]
sensational
slick
splendid
stellar
sterling
superb
superior
superlative
supernal
swell
terrific
tip-top
top
top-notch
top-of-the-line
top-shelf
topflight
topping [chiefly British]
unsurpassed
wizard [chiefly British]
wonderful

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

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

Relevance

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

bully

2 of 3

noun

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

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

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

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

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 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

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

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

单词	bully
释义	bully 1 of 4 noun (1) bul·ly ˈbu̇-lē ˈbə- plural bullies 1 a : a blustering, browbeating person especially : one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable tormented by the neighborhood bully b : pimp 2 : a hired ruffian 3 archaic a : sweetheart b : a fine chap bully 2 of 4 verb bullied; bullying transitive verb 1 : to treat (someone) in a cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive fashion : to act like a bully toward bullied her younger brother 2 : to cause (someone) to do something by means of force or coercion was bullied into accepting their offer intransitive verb : to use language or behavior that is cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive bully 3 of 4 adjective 1 : excellent —often used in interjectional expressions bully for you 2 : resembling or characteristic of a bully his bully tricks bully 4 of 4 noun (2) food : pickled or canned usually corned beef Did you know? Bully Wasn't Always Negative The earliest meaning of English bully was “sweetheart.” The word was probably borrowed from Dutch boel, “lover.” Later bully was used for anyone who seemed a good fellow, then for a blustering daredevil. Today, a bully is usually one whose claims to strength and courage are based on the intimidation of those who are weaker. Synonyms Noun (1) bullyboy hector intimidator Verb abuse brutalize ill-treat ill-use kick around maltreat manhandle mess over [slang] mishandle mistreat misuse Adjective A-OK A1 awesome bang-up banner beautiful blue-chip blue-ribbon boffo bonny [chiefly British] bonnie boss [slang] brag brave bumper capital choice classic cool [slang] corking crackerjack cracking dandy divine dope [slang] down [slang] dynamite excellent fab fabulous famous fantabulous [slang] fantastic fine first-class first-rate first-string five-star four-star frontline gangbusters gangbuster gilt-edged gilt-edge gone [slang] grand great groovy heavenly high-class hot hype [slang] immense jim-dandy keen lovely marvelous marvellous mean neat nifty noble number one No. 1 numero uno out-of-sight [slang] par excellence peachy peachy keen phat [slang] prime primo [slang] prize prizewinning quality radical [slang] righteous [slang] sensational slick splendid stellar sterling superb superior superlative supernal swell terrific tip-top top top-notch top-of-the-line top-shelf topflight topping [chiefly British] unsurpassed wizard [chiefly British] wonderful See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb He bullied his younger brothers. the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates Adjective that's a bully idea for reviving the town's retail center Word History Etymology Noun (1), Verb, and Adjective probably from Middle Dutch boele lover; akin to Middle Low German bōle lover, Middle High German buole Noun (2) probably modification of French (bœuf) boulli boiled beef First Known Use Noun (1) 1538, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Verb 1693, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Adjective 1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 1753, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing bully bully pulpit bully pulpit Kids Definition bully 1 of 2 noun bul·ly ˈbu̇-lē plural bullies : someone who is cruel, insulting, or threatening to another and often to one who is smaller, weaker, or in some way vulnerable bully 2 of 2 verb bullied; bullying : to be cruel, insulting, or threatening to another and often to one who is smaller, weaker, or in some way vulnerable 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 Relevance great terrific lovely excellent wonderful prime awesome beautiful superb fabulous stellar fantastic fine hot brave boss famous brag mean classic top superior marvelous quality choice cracking frontline cool slick too much par excellence wizard down good dynamite dandy prize swell neat heavenly keen dope noble topping grand divine bumper banner better capital gone sensational righteous gangbusters sterling marvellous peachy number one prizewinning primo numero uno radical hype bonny exceptional superlative crackerjack corking boffo phat acceptable out of this world fab unsurpassed decent gangbuster splendid immense topflight groovy blue-chip high-class peachy keen bonnie all right first-string supernal out-of-sight nifty A-OK special five-star jim-dandy adequate blue-ribbon first-class first-rate bang-up satisfactory gilt-edge tip-top top-shelf traditional top-notch select fantabulous top-of-the-line No. 1 okay four-star tolerable A1 fancy standard premium classical gilt-edged passable OK superfine high-grade high-test Antonyms & Near Antonyms vile pathetic poor terrible rotten awful lousy wretched bad inferior atrocious execrable unsatisfactory substandard low-grade middling mediocre second-rate second-class See More bully 2 of 3 noun 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 thug abuser harasser hector bullyboy torturer gangster antagonist tough oppressor rough heckler hoodlum hooligan ruffian goon baiter persecutor tease taunter mocker harrier racketeer hood rowdy giber needler cutthroat ridiculer roughneck punk mobster toughie felon jiber gunman teaser 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 hoodlum tough hooligan pirate ruffian bandit goon thief offender gorilla assassin mobster rowdy gangsta gangbanger yob punk roughneck toughie hood perpetrator plug-ugly yobbo cutthroat scoundrel crook toughy outlaw perp robber lawbreaker felon swindler mafioso brigand racketeer vandal pickpocket mug malefactor desperado gunman bravo highwayman 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 oppress mistreat injure torture manhandle hurt persecute brutalize harass violate maltreat take apart misuse mess over molest mishandle ill-treat torment victimize ill-use harm kick around wrong outrage sandbag burn work (over) beat (up) rough (up) mess (up) Antonyms & Near Antonyms care (for) foster nurture cherish baby favor cater (to) spoil coddle gratify indulge mollycoddle humor pamper See More 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 browbeat coerce startle harass badger hector cow strong-arm bulldoze bogart threaten bullyrag pick on blackjack shock terrorize pressure bluster force terrify spook menace hound bludgeon trash-talk compel horrify alarm unman upset affright unnerve push around disturb constrain demoralize oblige distress dragoon press disconcert make perturb discompose alarum disquiet psych (out) Antonyms & Near Antonyms reassure cheer soothe encourage steel comfort convince persuade console embolden solace hearten See More Synonym Chooser 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 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 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 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 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
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bully

noun (1)

verb

adjective

noun (2)

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing bully

Kids Definition

noun

verb

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser