bully

/ˈbu̇-lē/

probably from Middle Dutch boele lover; akin to Middle Low German bōle lover, Middle High German buole

noun

  1. a blustering, browbeating person; especially : one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable

  2. pimp

  3. a hired ruffian

verb

  1. to treat (someone) in a cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive fashion : to act like a bully toward

  2. to cause (someone) to do something by means of force or coercion

  3. to use language or behavior that is cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive

bullied her younger brother

intimidate cow bulldoze bully browbeat mean to frighten into submission. intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another. cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

adjective

  1. excellent —often used in interjectional expressions

  2. resembling or characteristic of a bully