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bully
1[ bool-ee ]
noun
- 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)
- to intimidate, abuse, or harass, especially habitually:
The boy next door constantly bullies the younger children in the neighborhood.
- to coerce or compel by harassment or intimidation:
The salesman bullied me into upgrading the car's paint protection and rust-proofing.
verb (used without object)
- to harass, intimidate, or abuse other people, especially from a perceived position of relative power:
People who bully are often very insecure.
adjective
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!
bully
2[ bool-ee ]
adjective
- of or relating to a pit bull or bulldog:
The shelter has a number of bully breed mix puppies available for adoption.
bully
3[ bool-ee ]
noun
bully
4[ bool-ee ]
noun
- 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.
bully
1/ ˈbʊlɪ /
noun
- 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
- whentr, often foll by into to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (a weaker or smaller person), esp to make him do something
adjective
- dashing; jolly
my bully boy
- informal.very good; fine
interjection
- informal.Alsobully for you well done! bravo!
bully
2/ ˈbʊlɪ /
noun
- any of various small freshwater fishes of the genera Gobiomorphus and Philynodon of New Zealand Also called (NZ)pakokotitarakuratoitoi
Other Words From
- bul·ly·a·ble adjective
- un·bul·lied adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of bully1
Origin of bully2
Origin of bully3
Origin of bully4
Word History and Origins
Origin of bully1
Origin of bully2
Example Sentences
The inciting incident onstage — a school bully makes fun of the young girl’s condition, and her brother vengefully punches him in the face — is inspired by an actual anecdote.
The review, which focused on the period from 2008 to 2020, came after several gymnasts spoke out about bullying - with allegations of athletes being punished for needing the toilet.
A man who admitted being the owner of what is believed to be an XL bully that injured an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham has been given a two-year suspended sentence.
Nino apologizes profusely to the dazed Gianni — who was fleeing bullies — and leaves him, in lieu of contact information, with a crumpled sketch of fireworks.
“Some students arrived at school truly upset & even crying only to be bullied later by their classmates,” she added.
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About This Word
What does bully mean?
A bully is a person who harasses, abuses, intimidates, or coerces people, especially those with less power than they have or those considered weaker or vulnerable in some way. The word often implies that such behavior is repeated or habitual.
Bully can also be a verb meaning to treat people in this way (to act as a bully toward them), as in The man who used to bully his classmates in school is now teaching children how not to bully others. Someone who is treated in this way is said to be bullied. The act of treating people in this way is called bullying.
Bullies are primarily associated with school settings involving kids, but adults can be considered bullies as well. The most familiar form of a bully depicted in popular culture is the neighborhood or schoolyard bully, usually a physically strong or large child or teenager who uses their size to bully smaller, younger, or more timid kids. Famous fictional bullies that fit this profile include Biff Tannen from Back to the Future and Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons. However, the understanding of what constitutes bullying has evolved and broadened to encompass behavior that involves not just physical but emotional abuse and manipulation.
Many studies have shown that bullying has long-lasting emotional and psychological effects, and many organized efforts and campaigns are devoted to preventing bullying in schools and elsewhere. The word cyberbully is used as a noun and a verb in the context of bullying that happens online.
Bully can also be used a bit more generally to mean to force or coerce someone into doing something, as in The trainer bullied me into signing up for an expensive gym membership.
An entirely different (and much less common) use of bully is as an adjective to describe something as great or excellent, as in What a bully day! It’s also used as an interjection meaning “Great!” or “Well done!” as in Bully for you: you got all A’s on your report card! These uses of the word are now typically considered old-fashioned.
Example: Our school has a zero tolerance policy for bullying—bullies are immediately suspended.
Where does bully come from?
The first records of bully come from around 1530. It comes from the Middle Dutch word boele, which means “lover.” At that time, bully was used in English to mean “sweetheart.” Its use then became more general, coming to mean “fine fellow,” and, eventually, the opposite: “swaggering coward.” Bully began to be used in this sense around the 1700s.
Bully as an interjection meaning “Great!” is especially associated with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, and in fact he is thought to have introduced the term bully pulpit.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to bully?
- bullying (continuous tense verb, noun)
What are some synonyms for bully?
What are some words that share a root or word element with bully?
What are some words that often get used in discussing bully?
How is bully used in real life?
Bullies and bullying are primarily associated with children, but the word is also used in reference to adults. Bullying is treated as a serious problem in schools and online, especially due to the lasting effects it can have on those who are bullied.
Academic bullying is a major problem. After reporting my own abuse to the dean in my first grad program 8y ago, my bully was promoted and I was pushed to leave. I left science for years; my career is only now recovering. I am not alone. Neither are you.https://t.co/8wrivwrjs9
— Amy Gill (@biochemnerd) June 3, 2021
I was bullied for years at school and it had a massive impact on my mental health. Years later I feel like I've only just really recovered. I am supporting this weeks campaign. Please dont be afraid to speak out if you're struggling. #AntiBullyingWeek #ChooseKindness
— Fran Prison RD (@FranWaldock) November 13, 2019
TikTok hired some of its best animators for an anti-bullying campaign https://t.co/T0EzSeFkYM pic.twitter.com/EY7jgv938T
— The Verge (@verge) June 10, 2021
Try using bully!
True or False?
The word bully always refers to a child.
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