bulldoze

verb

bull·​doze ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz 

 also  ˈbəl-

bulldozed; bulldozing; bulldozes

transitive verb

1

: to coerce or restrain by threats : bully

2

: to move, clear, gouge out, or level off by pushing with or as if with a bulldozer

3

: to force insensitively or ruthlessly

intransitive verb

1

: to operate a bulldozer

2

: to force one's way like a bulldozer

Synonyms

• bore
• bull
• crash
• elbow
• jam
• jostle
• muscle
• press
• push
• shoulder
• squeeze

Choose the Right Synonym for bulldoze

intimidate, cow, bulldoze, bully, browbeat mean to frighten into submission.

intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

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

bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

Examples of bulldoze in a Sentence

The crew is bulldozing the trees.

They bulldozed a road through the hills.

The governor bulldozed the law through the legislature.

Recent Examples on the Web

With her nerves already on edge, Blanche is further startled by the arrival of her brother-in-law Stanley, a brutish drunk who has bulldozed his way into Stella’s heart. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025

As these threats built and COVID continued to bulldoze its way across the U.S, people moved away from collective care for one another’s health. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2025

Democrats accuse Musk of being an ominous figure with a tangle of conflicting business interests who bulldozes illegally into federal databases and government functions. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2025

If not, here’s a short synopsis: Green absolutely bulldozed a top tackle prospect in Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. Now Conerly certainly bounced back at Thursday’s final practice but the point is clear: talent always trumps school prestige. —C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bull entry 1 + alteration of dose

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing bulldoze

• bulldoze one's way

Rhymes for bulldoze

• aloes
• arose
• bedclothes
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• compose
• crossbows
• demos
• depose

Kids Definition

bulldoze

verb

bull·​doze ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz 

bulldozed; bulldozing

1

: to move, clear, or level with a bulldozer

2

: to force as if by using a bulldozer

bulldozed their way through the crowd