Synonyms of bullies

bullies 1 of 2

noun

plural of bully

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

• enemies
• intimidators
• abusers
• harassers
• thugs
• bullyboys
• torturers
• gangsters
• hectors
• oppressors
• antagonists
• hoodlums
• toughs
• hecklers
• hooligans
• ruffians
• persecutors
• punks
• rowdies
• mockers
• goons
• taunters
• racketeers
• hoods
• roughs
• baiters
• roughnecks
• harriers
• mobsters
• felons
• ridiculers
• cutthroats
• teasers
• teases
• toughies
• gunmen
• gibers
• needlers
• mugs

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

• thugs
• criminals
• villains
• gangsters
• bandits
• pirates
• thieves
• assassins
• offenders
• hoodlums
• ruffians
• hooligans
• toughs
• punks
• rowdies
• gorillas
• goons
• mobsters
• roughnecks
• hoods
• yobs
• perpetrators
• gangbangers
• yobbos
• gangstas
• toughies
• scoundrels
• plug-uglies
• robbers
• crooks
• outlaws
• cutthroats
• vandals
• lawbreakers
• brigands
• felons
• desperadoes
• mugs
• racketeers
• highwaymen
• swindlers
• malefactors
• gunmen
• mafiosi
• pickpockets
• perps
• juvenile delinquents
• bravos
• tearaways

bullies

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bully

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

• abuses
• tortures
• mistreats
• maltreats
• brutalizes
• oppresses
• injures
• misuses
• persecutes
• hurts
• manhandles
• ill-treats
• takes apart
• violates
• ill-uses
• harasses
• torments
• messes over
• mishandles
• outrages
• molests
• harms
• victimizes
• wrongs
• kicks around
• works (over)
• sandbags
• beats (up)
• burns
• roughs (up)
• messes (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cares (for)
• fosters
• nurtures
• cherishes
• babies
• favors
• caters (to)
• spoils
• indulges
• gratifies
• pampers
• humors
• mollycoddles
• coddles

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

• intimidates
• frightens
• scares
• strong-arms
• browbeats
• cows
• startles
• coerces
• bulldozes
• badgers
• harasses
• shocks
• pressures
• bogarts
• bullyrags
• picks on
• hectors
• threatens
• blackjacks
• menaces
• spooks
• terrifies
• blusters
• terrorizes
• forces
• horrifies
• alarms
• hounds
• affrights
• bludgeons
• upsets
• compels
• trash-talks
• distresses
• unmans
• disturbs
• constrains
• demoralizes
• disconcerts
• obliges
• unnerves
• presses
• disquiets
• discomposes
• perturbs
• dragoons
• psychs (out)
• pushes around
• makes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cheers
• reassures
• comforts
• consoles
• soothes
• encourages
• steels
• convinces
• emboldens
• solaces
• persuades
• heartens

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bullies

Noun

Dementia is clearly a big problem, and yet, sadly, our politicians — both Democrats and Republicans — talk about it not like adults, but like schoolyard bullies. — Jason Karlawish, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026

Now Carrie enters public school for the very first time, and with the reemergence of formidable telekinetic abilities, her blissful naivety of girlhood and her wide-open heart make her easy prey for physical and online bullies. — Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

In both cases, legal protections designed to defend the little guy against bullies—the brewers, the car manufacturers—ended up creating a new category of bully. — John Lanchester, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Killceañera, which turns a quinceañera into an event in which a teen takes revenge on her bullies, will feature an outdoor performer lip-syncing a song co-written by Murdy and Slash from a balcony. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Hathaway hilariously portrays the growing pains of trying to learn royal etiquette while navigating dreamy boys and high-school bullies. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

The Pratts are in serious crisis, besieged by bullies and bad neighbors outside of their house and foundation-crumbling dysfunction inside it. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026

In a fit of rage a couple of nights later, Kimmel grabbed his father’s handgun, found the truck of bullies responsible, and blocked them in. — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Just quash that bill and stop playing with the bullies on the playground. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026

Verb

Backstage, Kenny Omega calls the Don Callis Family bullies and tells them to pick any three members to face him and The Young Bucks, who are standing beside Omega, next week. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Williams called Valkyries fans bullies in an Instagram Live stream earlier this week, and by Friday night, Chase Center had the receipts. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 20 June 2026

Sweden’s Hien had no idea how to stop Brobbey’s darting runs when looking to connect with crosses from out wide and the striker routinely bullies bigger boys before either scoring or creating for others. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 20 June 2026

The Pledge is meaningless if the president of the United States lies to us, divides us, bullies us and steals from us. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026

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

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