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
bullied; bullying
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
: to use language or behavior that is cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive
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)
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
Examples of bully in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the school has a procedure for students who want to report problems with bullies
the local loan shark and his bullies have ways of making people pay up
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
The real estate agent she’s chosen happens to be the person most responsible for making Rhiannon such a meek, repressed person: her high school bully, Julia (Mood’s Nicôle Lecky).
—Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
The nature of the gas market, then, meant buyers begged, bribed, or bullied sellers into supplying gas to keep their lights on.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bully 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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about these examples.
Noun
Racine, whose scars are only on her torso and hands, is the defender, hitting back at their many bullies since childhood.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
The real estate agent she’s chosen happens to be the person most responsible for making Rhiannon such a meek, repressed person: her high school bully, Julia (Mood’s Nicôle Lecky).
—Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
Another season of Love Is Blind has come and gone, and in its wake we were left with two marriages, five breakups, a villain who bullies, a gold-digging hero, and at least one secret father who never mentioned his children to his partner.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
The nature of the gas market, then, meant buyers begged, bribed, or bullied sellers into supplying gas to keep their lights on.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bully
Dictionary Entries Near bully
Cite this Entry
“Bully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bully. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bully
1 of 2 noun
bul·ly
ˈbu̇l-ē 
plural bullies
: a person who purposely hurts, intimidates, threatens, or ridicules another usually more vulnerable person especially repeatedly
bully
2 of 2 verb
bullied; bullying
: to act like a bully toward
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