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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullies
Noun
-
The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 has mainly been invoked during wartime in order for the federal government to control immigration of the United States’s enemies.—
Ross O'Keefe,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
22 Mar. 2025 -
But as his king’s new wife Jane Seymour (Kate Phillips) fails to provide him a male heir and an uprising in the north of England threatens the delicate state of the realm, Cromwell’s enemies begin to circle while the king (Damian Lewis) grows ever more unpredictable.—
Katie Kilkenny,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
But even as the ways criminals use ransomware are set to evolve, the actual makeup of the technology isn’t expected to change too drastically in the coming years.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
-
The regulation, which would require small businesses to disclose the identity of people who directly or indirectly own a control a company, is designed to prevent criminals from hiding illicit activity conducted through shell companies or opaque ownership structures, the Treasury said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The next big bad in Jared Leto's motley crew of sinister screen villains has finally been announced.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
21 Dec. 2024
-
For others, deep cuts are remembering the names of random Ninja Turtle villains.—
Staff,
The Christian Science Monitor,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Cemeteries, too, will do a land office business, not only with dead gangsters, but innocents too, caught in the cross fire.—
Walter E Block,
Orange County Register,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Plus, the coffers of gangsters will rise.—
Walter E Block,
Orange County Register,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The film itself lacks much of the original’s charms (here, the dogs don’t speak), and John Hughes’ so-so script borrows heavily from his earlier film Home Alone, right down to the two fumbling bandits (Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams, playing Cruella’s henchmen).—
Staff Author,
EW.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
With the dwarfs and bandits by her side, Snow White vows to reclaim her parents’ home and restore peace to her impoverished kingdom.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Bullies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullies. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share