bulldoze

American  

[bool-dohz] / ˈbʊlˌdoʊz /

verb (used with object)

bulldozed, bulldozing

1. to clear, level, or reshape the contours of (land) by or as if by using a bulldozer.

   to bulldoze a building site.

2. to clear away by or as if by using a bulldozer.

   to bulldoze trees from a site.

3. to coerce or intimidate, as with threats.

   Synonyms:

   dragoon, hector, bully, cow, browbeat

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verb (used without object)

bulldozed, bulldozing

1. to use a bulldozer.

   to clear this rubble away we may have to bulldoze.

2. to advance or force one's way in the manner of a bulldozer.

bulldoze British  

/ ˈbʊlˌdəʊz /

verb

1. to move, demolish, flatten, etc, with a bulldozer

2. informal to force; push

   he bulldozed his way through the crowd

3. informal to intimidate or coerce

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Usage

What does bulldoze mean? To bulldoze is to clear, level, or push debris away from an area using a bulldozer—a large tractor that has a big, blade-like shovel at the front and moves around using metal tracks over wheels.Sometimes, bulldoze can mean to clear an area in this way even if a bulldozer isn’t used.Bulldoze can also be used figuratively, meaning to move forward or advance in an aggressive or forceful way. This can be physical, as in He just bulldozed his way to the goal by pushing through three defenders, or through an aggressive attitude, as in Instead of cooperating with his colleagues, he just bulldozes his way through tasks until he gets what he wants. This sense of the word likens such behavior to the way that a bulldozer powerfully clears everything in its path.However, before its association with the construction vehicle, bulldoze originally meant to intimidate, such as with threats of violence. Early records of this use refer to violent attacks, especially whipping, against African Americans by white people in the Southern United States. However, the origin of these words, and how bulldozer came to be a name for a type of tractor, is ultimately unclear.The verb doze can be used as a short way of saying bulldoze, as in We need to doze this whole area or She dozes through every obstacle that’s put in her way.

Etymology

Origin of bulldoze

1875–80, origin uncertain; the notion that it represents a verb use of bull dose, i.e., a dose fit for a bull, is probably without merit; bulldoze defs. 1, 2, 4, 5 are back formations from bulldozer in the sense “tractor”

Example Sentences

He added: "Where there aren't levers, we build them. Where there are barriers, we bulldoze them. Where there is poor performance, we challenge it."

From BBC

The victims' families also said valuable evidence was lost when the crash site was bulldozed soon after the accident, leading to claims of an attempted cover-up.

From Barron's

Department of Water and Power crews bulldozed hundreds of federally endangered plants in Topanga State Park.

From Los Angeles Times

Fall River is one of those northern post-industrial cities that’s been futilely trying to reverse decline for decades, first by bulldozing historic neighborhoods to build highways, and now by constructing breweries and farmer’s markets.

From Salon

Over time federal and state authorities bulldozed many poor neighborhoods and replaced them with supposedly more rational units, often high-rises.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• flatten
• raze
• shove