bullynoun [ C ]
uk/ˈbʊl.i/us/ˈbʊl.i/C1 someone who hurts or frightens someone else, often over a period of time, and often forcing them to do something that they do not want to do:
You're just a big bully!
Teachers usually know who the bullies are in a class.
More examples
- It takes courage to stand up to a bully.
- He was one of those school bullies who tyrannized the whole playground.
- Don't be such a bully - if she doesn't want to come with us, she doesn't have to.
- The playground bully used to take our dinner money off us.
- The management team should stop acting like bullies and try to discuss the problem with us reasonably.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Treating people or animals badly
- a raw deal idiom
- at the hands of sb idiom
- batten
- batten on sb
- be heavy on sb idiom
- bleed
- grind
- jerk sb around
- knife
- knock
- knock sb around
- lay a finger on sb idiom
- put sb through sth
- shit on sb
- shortchange
- shove
- shove sb around
- smite
- torment
- walk all over sb idiom
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Idiom(s)
bully for sb
bullyverb [ T ]
uk/ˈbʊl.i/us/ˈbʊl.i/C1 to hurt or frighten someone, often over a period of time, and often forcing that person to do something they do not want to do:
Our survey indicates that one in four children is bullied at school.
Don't let anyone bully you into doing something you don't want to do.
More examples
- He has a strong personality, but don't let him bully you.
- Don't be bullied, learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.
- It is important that you report it to the teacher if you see anyone being bullied.
- He bullied me into getting the surgery done, and I'm glad now that he did.
- When you are bullied, it can destroy your self-esteem.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Treating people or animals badly
- a raw deal idiom
- at the hands of sb idiom
- batten
- batten on sb
- be heavy on sb idiom
- bleed
- grind
- jerk sb around
- knife
- knock
- knock sb around
- lay a finger on sb idiom
- put sb through sth
- shit on sb
- shortchange
- shove
- shove sb around
- smite
- torment
- walk all over sb idiom
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Causing somebody to act
bullying
noun [ U ] uk/ˈbʊl.i.ɪŋ/us/ˈbʊl.i.ɪŋ/
Bullying is a problem in many schools.