bully

[ bool-ee ]

/ ˈbʊl i /

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See synonyms for: bully / bullied / bullier / bulliest on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural bul·lies.

a 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.

verb (used with object), bul·lied, bul·ly·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), bul·lied, bul·ly·ing.

to act as a bully: People who bully are often very insecure.

adjective

Informal. fine; excellent; very good: What a bully meal!

Archaic. dashing; jovial; high-spirited.

interjection

Informal. good! well done!: If your bus commute saves you time and gets you to work on time, well bully for you!

OTHER WORDS FOR bully

6 cow, browbeat; terrorize, tyrannize.

See synonyms for bully on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of bully

First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle Dutch boele “lover”

OTHER WORDS FROM bully

bul·ly·a·ble, adjectiveun·bul·lied, adjectiveun·bul·ly·ing, adjective

Other definitions for bully (2 of 3)

bully²

[ bool-ee ]

/ ˈbʊl i /

noun

bully beef.

Origin of bully

First recorded in 1750–55; from French bouilli, short for boeuf bouilli “boiled meat”; see origin at boil¹, beef

Other definitions for bully (3 of 3)

bully³

[ bool-ee ]

/ ˈbʊl i /

noun, plural bul·lies.

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

First recorded in 1860–65; of obscure origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use bully in a sentence

He just wanted a bullier pulpit than a talk show from which to sound the alarm.
Putting Words in Gore Vidal’s Mouth—a Copywriter Recalls the 1982 Senate Campaign|Robert Chandler|August 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The “Bullier” orchestra will interest you; they play with a snap and fire and a tempo that is irresistible.
The Real Latin Quarter|F. Berkeley Smith
In this Friday gathering you will recognize dozens of faces which you have seen at the “Bal Bullier” and the cafés.
The Real Latin Quarter|F. Berkeley Smith
I don't know; there may be bullier circuses than what that one was, but I never struck them yet.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

The famous students dancing saloon known as bal Bullier was at this end of the boulevard from 1848 till a few years ago.
Historic Paris|Jetta S. Wolff
Senator Loyer offered his arm to her, with the graceful attitude that he had learned forty years before at Bullier's dancing-hall.
The Red Lily, Complete|Anatole France

British Dictionary definitions for bully (1 of 2)

bully¹

/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

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

verb -lies, -lying or -lied

(when tr , often foll by into) to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (a weaker or smaller person), esp to make him do something

adjective

dashing; jollymy bully boy

informal very good; fine

interjection

Also: bully for you informal well done! bravo!

Word Origin for bully

C16 (in the sense: sweetheart, hence fine fellow, hence swaggering coward): probably from Middle Dutch boele lover, from Middle High German buole, perhaps childish variant of bruoder brother

British Dictionary definitions for bully (2 of 2)

bully²

/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

any of various small freshwater fishes of the genera Gobiomorphus and Philynodon of New ZealandAlso called (NZ): pakoko, titarakura, toitoi

Word Origin for bully

C20: short for cockabully

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bully

OTHER WORDS FOR bully

Origin of bully

OTHER WORDS FROM bully

Other definitions for bully (2 of 3)

Origin of bully

Other definitions for bully (3 of 3)

Origin of bully

Words related to bully

How to use bully in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bully (1 of 2)

Word Origin for bully

British Dictionary definitions for bully (2 of 2)

Word Origin for bully