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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bullies
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
There are plenty of anthropological accounts of skillful people earning social status and bullies being quickly cut down.
—Thomas Morgan, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
That said, women account for roughly 30% to 35% of workplace bullies.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One of Hardy's victims, who went only by the pseudonym Melanie, told The Guardian that in school, Hardy was a target for bullies and seemed lonely.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The only one who cares about Pits is her young brother, who was horribly disfigured in a fire and is the target of bullies.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
In the Chief Clarence Dickson Police College auditorium, nine Miami-Dade students were recognized Wednesday morning for stepping up in critical moments such as protecting classmates against bullies and reporting suicidal behavior.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
But the finale ‘Tragedy & Flies’, now available to stream on Paramount+, proves that first impressions are not always correct, as Paigyn keeps Ainsley from developing an injury during cheer camp, and the cheerleader returns the favor by defending her new friend from anti-LGBTQ bullies.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026
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
The screen fades to black, and then, seconds later, Kid and the bullies are on their knees with their hands behind their heads, facing a cop who has his gun drawn.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
There are plenty of anthropological accounts of skillful people earning social status and bullies being quickly cut down.
—Thomas Morgan, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
That said, women account for roughly 30% to 35% of workplace bullies.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One of Hardy's victims, who went only by the pseudonym Melanie, told The Guardian that in school, Hardy was a target for bullies and seemed lonely.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The only one who cares about Pits is her young brother, who was horribly disfigured in a fire and is the target of bullies.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
In the Chief Clarence Dickson Police College auditorium, nine Miami-Dade students were recognized Wednesday morning for stepping up in critical moments such as protecting classmates against bullies and reporting suicidal behavior.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
But the finale ‘Tragedy & Flies’, now available to stream on Paramount+, proves that first impressions are not always correct, as Paigyn keeps Ainsley from developing an injury during cheer camp, and the cheerleader returns the favor by defending her new friend from anti-LGBTQ bullies.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
-
And, perhaps most importantly, we are feared by the enemies all over the globe.—
WILL WEISSERT,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
On the ice, they’re sworn enemies.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The forces involved in this deadly crackdown include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its Basij thugs and various divisions of Iran’s security forces.—
Hamid Kashani,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
-
When three murderous thugs attempt to reclaim the contraband from Susan, a nightmarish scenario unfolds during the two-hour stage story.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Malware often abuses them to take control of your device.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
As a child, Heathcliff’s main tormenter is Cathy’s brother, Hindley, who physically abuses Heathcliff and forces him to work in the stables as a servant.—
Becky Little,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If French wine intimidates you, this is the perfect place to get over that fear.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Independent groups like Human Rights Watch say the Venezuelan government intimidates human rights advocates, arrests and detains protesters and harasses journalists.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
14 Jan. 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
-
Violence is widespread in the city proper, with large encampments where meth and other drugs are readily available and criminals reportedly exploit the city’s free bus system to carry out offenses.—
Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Godwin is well known in the space, having assisted law enforcement nationwide leading to the removal of hundreds of criminals from the streets.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Her hysteria frightens me and demands to be taken care of.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Head coach Patty Gasso and her bunch remain the biggest villains in the Texas softball universe.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
-
As the Masters of the Universe makes its way to the big screen, one of Saturday morning cartoons’ most iconic villains is getting the cinematic treatment.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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