bully

bully — noun

1. a person who repeatedly uses fear, insults, or violence to control someone weake

1.nounC1
Definition

a person who repeatedly uses fear, insults, or violence to control someone weaker.

Example

On the bus, a bully kept taking Yusuf's lunch money.

bully + repeated harmful action

After two weeks, the bully started hiding Theo's gym shoes.

Common collocations
  • school bully
  • class bully
  • playground bully
  • online bully
Synonyms
  • tormentor

    stresses causing emotional pain over time

  • aggressor

    broader and more formal

  • thug

    suggests more physical violence or criminal behavior

Antonyms
  • protector

    someone who keeps weaker people safe

  • victim

    the person harmed rather than the one causing harm

Usage Note

Often used for someone who has more size, age, status, or group support than the other person. Distinguish from verb sense 1 PUSH AROUND, which names the action rather than the person.

Common Mistakes

Ravi was the bully at school.
Ravi was bullied at school.
a bully is the person causing the harm, not the person receiving it.

2. a strong dog from a short-nosed group that includes breeds such as bulldogs and

2.noun
Definition

a strong dog from a short-nosed group that includes breeds such as bulldogs and pit bulls.

Example

After the park walk, their bully slept in the crate.

breed noun: a bully

At the dog show, two bullies waited quietly in the ring.

plural breed use: bullies

Common collocations
  • bully breed
  • blue bully
  • American bully
  • two bullies
Synonyms

Usage Note

Common in breed names and discussions of bully breeds. It names a type of dog, not a dog's personality.

3. in hockey, a restart where the referee lets the ball or puck fall between two op

3.noun
Definition

in hockey, a restart where the referee lets the ball or puck fall between two opponents.

Example

The captain won the bully and passed left at once.

win the bully

After the foul, play restarted with a bully near midfield.

restart with a bully

Common collocations
  • opening bully
  • win the bully
  • prepare for the bully
Synonyms
  • face-off

    the better-known term in some kinds of hockey

  • restart

    general word, not specific to this play

Usage Note

Specialist hockey vocabulary. In ordinary English, people are far more likely to meet the noun sense 1 or the verb sense 1.

bully — verb

bully — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For verb sense 1, bully is stronger and more personal than intimidate. Intimidate can describe making someone afraid in a single moment, but bully usually suggests repeated pressure, insults, or attacks, often with a power gap. Harass also involves repeated trouble, though it can be legal or workplace language and does not always suggest one side is stronger. Coerce is more formal and focuses on forcing a choice or action. Browbeat highlights aggressive, repeated speech. If older students mock a smaller child every day, bully fits best. If a boss frightens a worker into signing a paper, coerce or bully someone into signing both work, but coerce sounds more formal.

intimidate ↗harasscoercebrowbeat

Etymology

Middle DutchEnglish

Bully probably came into English from a Dutch word meaning a lover or dear companion. In the 1500s it could be a friendly or admiring word for a sweetheart or a fine fellow. Later the tone changed, and it began to suggest a loud, rough man who pushed others around. The modern noun and verb grew from that negative use, while the rare adjective meaning "excellent" keeps a trace of the older positive sense.