bully
1a blustering, mean, or predatory person who, from a perceived position of relative power, intimidates, abuses, harasses, or coerces people, especially those considered unlikely to defend themselves: playground bullies targeting children with disabilities;a workplace bully who cuts me off when I speak.
Archaic. a man hired to do violence.
Obsolete. a pimp; procurer.
Obsolete. a good friend; good fellow.
Obsolete. a sweetheart; darling.
to act the bully toward; habitually intimidate, abuse, or harass: The boy next door constantly bullies the younger children in the neighborhood.
to coerce or compel by bullying: The salesman bullied me into upgrading the car's paint protection and rust-proofing.
to act as a bully: People who bully are often very insecure.
Origin of bully
1Other words for bully
Other words from bully
- bul·ly·a·ble, adjective
- un·bul·lied, adjective
- un·bul·ly·ing, adjective
Other definitions for bully (2 of 4)
of or relating to a pit bull or bulldog: The shelter has a number of bully breed mix puppies available for adoption.
Origin of bully
2Other definitions for bully (3 of 4)
Origin of bully
3Other definitions for bully (4 of 4)
Soccer. a desperate, freewheeling scramble for the ball by a number of players, usually in the goal area.
Field Hockey. a method of putting the ball into play in which two opponents, facing each other, tap their sticks on the ground near the ball and then make contact with each other's sticks over the ball three times, after which each tries to gain possession of the ball.
Origin of bully
4Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use bully in a sentence
A year before Government Bullies, he published The Tea Party Goes to Washington.
The sound of a man surrounded by 13 bullies who are desperate to beat him up, maybe worse, for being gay?
The ‘Hunted’ Gays of Putin’s Russia: Vicious Vigilantes and State Bigotry Close Up | Tim Teeman | October 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe responded by declaring: "Gay people are just outright bullies."
A group of bullies tricked an autistic boy into doing the popular Ice Bucket Challenge—only the bucket was full of human waste.
Ice Bucket Challenge Bullies Messed with the Wrong Internet | Elizabeth Heideman | September 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTVincent teaches young Oliver how to fight bullies, how to gamble, what a hooker is––you know, the important things in life.
Meet Vincent McKenna, Your New Favorite Bill Murray Character | Alex Suskind | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He was flung down heavily, and pinned prone in a corner by one of those bullies who knelt on his spine.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniHere the bullies of the two counties would come together to decide who was the "best man."
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine | John Fox, Jr.Little and quiet and smooth-spoken, he could put the legal leather into the biggest bullies the other side could hire.
The Wreckers | Francis LyndeThis made Sherrard furious, and Sheriff Zones and all his crowd of bullies were furious with him.
Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler | Pardee ButlerMost of the thrashings that he had dealt out to the school bullies were given on his brothers account.
Heroes of To-Day | Mary R. Parkman
British Dictionary definitions for bully (1 of 2)
/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /
a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people
archaic a hired ruffian
obsolete a procurer; pimp
obsolete a fine fellow or friend
obsolete a sweetheart; darling
(when tr , often foll by into) to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (a weaker or smaller person), esp to make him do something
dashing; jolly: my bully boy
informal very good; fine
Also: bully for you informal well done! bravo!
Origin of bully
1British Dictionary definitions for bully (2 of 2)
/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /
any of various small freshwater fishes of the genera Gobiomorphus and Philynodon of New Zealand: Also called (NZ): pakoko, titarakura, toitoi
Origin of bully
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse