1
as in enemies
a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable persons
the school has a procedure for students who want to report problems with bullies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the local loan shark and his bullies have ways of making people pay up
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in abuses
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intimidates
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
the manager was fired for bullying employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bullies
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Blackwell, a pharmaceutical sales representative in Los Angeles, said the Nicholsons favored certain players, including two whom Blackwell described as bullies.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
When Karaban ripped the ball out of Wagler’s hands with a little more than four minutes left in the first half and led a fast break that resulted in Mullins’ three-point play, the Huskies were the bullies Wagler had been warned about.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
On the other hand, the other bullies in the West aren’t exactly standing pat.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The irony is that a minority once viewed as filled with sissies and losers is now portrayed as filled with bullies and power brokers, and straight people, especially men, seem to perceive themselves as the weak and afraid ones.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
For example, his steady job working in a bookstore blows up when it is set on fire and destroyed by those bullies ruling the neighborhood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
And there will not be a skateboard chase with Marty eluding Biff and his fellow bullies.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 2026
Political bullies also enjoy demeaning names and character assassination.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
There’s always a mean kid in your class who bullies everybody else.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The Bullies Versus The Bullied Studies show that men make up around 65% to 70% of workplace bullies overall, which researchers argue is in alignment with broader power disparities, as men continue to hold a majority of senior leadership roles.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Henry Bowers is the local punk who relentlessly bullies the Losers' Club and later falls under the spell of Pennywise.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Cipher bullies other characters across the season about their powers, but because of Andre and Polarity’s degenerative abilities, this underscores the eugenics behind his beliefs.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Berfield — who played Reese, Dewey's older brother — watches the tween get picked on by a group of bullies before turning and smacking them with his bag.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Blackwell, a pharmaceutical sales representative in Los Angeles, said the Nicholsons favored certain players, including two whom Blackwell described as bullies.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
When Karaban ripped the ball out of Wagler’s hands with a little more than four minutes left in the first half and led a fast break that resulted in Mullins’ three-point play, the Huskies were the bullies Wagler had been warned about.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
On the other hand, the other bullies in the West aren’t exactly standing pat.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The irony is that a minority once viewed as filled with sissies and losers is now portrayed as filled with bullies and power brokers, and straight people, especially men, seem to perceive themselves as the weak and afraid ones.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
For example, his steady job working in a bookstore blows up when it is set on fire and destroyed by those bullies ruling the neighborhood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
And there will not be a skateboard chase with Marty eluding Biff and his fellow bullies.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 2026
Political bullies also enjoy demeaning names and character assassination.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Pledge is meaningless if the president of the United States lies to us, divides us, bullies us and steals from us.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
There’s always a mean kid in your class who bullies everybody else.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The Bullies Versus The Bullied Studies show that men make up around 65% to 70% of workplace bullies overall, which researchers argue is in alignment with broader power disparities, as men continue to hold a majority of senior leadership roles.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Henry Bowers is the local punk who relentlessly bullies the Losers' Club and later falls under the spell of Pennywise.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Cipher bullies other characters across the season about their powers, but because of Andre and Polarity’s degenerative abilities, this underscores the eugenics behind his beliefs.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullies
Noun
-
Trump unilaterally waged war against a foreign country, used the Department of Justice and FBI to attack his political enemies, and enriched himself and his family at the expense of Americans.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
Country has ‘strategic enemies’ on both sides Ghadban said his country had no interest in allying with either side in the war.—
Abby Sewell,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
He’s beaten by thugs with a crowbar for an unfortunate outburst, exploited by neighbors in the council estate and arrested, all because people don’t understand Tourette syndrome.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mayor vows to catch 'thugs who did this' Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards promised that law enforcement will catch the people responsible for the violence at the mall.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Under my watch, anyone who abuses wildlife in Florida will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Its leader, the president, abuses power, hurts the innocent, and mocks the dead before their families have even begun to grieve.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The aura of the classical guitar intimidates me.—
Peter Wayne Moe,
Longreads,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The case has heightened concerns among Canada’s Iranian diaspora, many of whom have warned for years that Tehran monitors and intimidates critics abroad.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All the while, Sarah is being hunted by corporate intimidators Dawson (Sam Worthington) and Rosetti (Willa Fitzgerald), who want to ensure her silence.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Lamont and other Democrats said the raises were well deserved because the state needs to recruit workers for difficult jobs that include prison guards dealing with dangerous criminals and social workers dealing with troubled families in the state Department of Children and Families.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
-
And too often, these criminals stay one step ahead of law enforcement.—
Chris Spear,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One person in Atlanta has appeared in his videos as Batman villains, for free, dressed in homemade costumes that look like they were ripped straight from the television or movies.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Her character joined several others who faced the wrath of Homelander and other villains.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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