Synonym Chooser

How is the word bulldoze different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of bulldoze are browbeat, bully, cow, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When can browbeat be used instead of bulldoze?

The words browbeat and bulldoze can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bully take the place of bulldoze?

While the synonyms bully and bulldoze are close in meaning, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When is it sensible to use cow instead of bulldoze?

Although the words cow and bulldoze have much in common, 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 might intimidate be a better fit than bulldoze?

The words intimidate and bulldoze are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

Example 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 bulldoze Compare that to Acacia, who allows Sam Star to bulldoze past her in every way this week. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025 The group is racing to remove and preserve thousands of vintage and historically significant tiles from the Eaton fire burn zone before the properties are bulldozed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2025 When neighborhoods are bulldozed, no one feels a sense of belonging or ownership. Buffy Gorrilla, NPR, 28 Feb. 2025 President Trump has spent the first few weeks of his second term bulldozing through the federal bureaucracy. German Lopez, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bulldoze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulldoze
Verb
  • Are Puerto Rican filmmakers pushing for this to change?
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
  • There are ways to push back against the horrors, but even the most ardent activist among us can’t be protesting 24/7.
    James Factora, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Mushrooms are a delicious addition to recipes, but preparing them for a dish can be intimidating.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Change can be intimidating, but doing nothing is the riskiest move of all.
    Abhijit Verekar, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But skyrocketing home prices and stubbornly high mortgage rates in the past few years have squeezed many buyers to the sidelines of the market, raising concerns that this year will see a nationwide drop in sales even during the spring homebuying season.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
  • This 2019 retread attempts to squeeze that same emotional response out of viewers, simply by recreating every frame through photorealistic CGI.
    Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Once back, Jérémie can’t bear to leave, and Vincent, resentful of the intruder in his mother’s house, tries to bully him out.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In a previous episode of the family's Bravo series, Sami revealed she was bullied for resembling her father, Charlie Sheen.
    Michelle Lee, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bulldoze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bulldoze. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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