Antonyms for bullies
| Grammar : Noun, verb |
| Spell : bool-ee |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈbʊl i |
Definition of bullies
Origin :- 1530s, originally "sweetheart," applied to either sex, from Dutch boel "lover; brother," probably a diminutive of Middle Dutch broeder "brother" (cf. Middle High German buole "brother," source of German Buhle "lover;" see brother (n.)).
- Meaning deteriorated 17c. through "fine fellow" and "blusterer" to "harasser of the weak" (1680s, from bully-ruffian, 1650s). Perhaps this was by influence of bull (n.1), but a connecting sense between "lover" and "ruffian" may be in "protector of a prostitute," which was one sense of bully (though not specifically attested until 1706). The expression meaning "worthy, jolly, admirable" (especially in 1864 U.S. slang bully for you!) is first attested 1680s, and preserves an earlier, positive sense of the word.
- noun domineering person
- verb intimidate, push around
- Spottiswood is going to send his bullies down here after me.
- Extract from : « Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates » by Howard Pyle
- He who bullies those who are not in a position to resist may be a snob, but cannot be a gentleman.
- Extract from : « Self-Help » by Samuel Smiles
- As he was leaving the Manege one of these bullies grossly insulted him.
- Extract from : « Scaramouche » by Rafael Sabatini
- On one occasion I had escaped from the attentions of some bullies into his room.
- Extract from : « My Reminiscences » by Rabindranath Tagore
- "Now, one thing more," said Gif, turning to the two bullies.
- Extract from : « The Rover Boys on a Hunt » by Arthur M. Winfield (Edward Stratemeyer)
- The bullies were called on to qualify under the eyes of the master.
- Extract from : « Joan of Arc of the North Woods » by Holman Day
- I will not say as schoolboys do to bullies—Take some one of your own size; don't pommel me!
- Extract from : « Moby Dick; or The Whale » by Herman Melville
- Bragg sits at the head of his table, and bullies the solitary Mrs. Bragg.
- Extract from : « The Christmas Books » by William Makepeace Thackeray
- He thinks the Germans are not much worse than we are; he says that a good many of us are bullies too.
- Extract from : « Saint's Progress » by John Galsworthy
- Rankers as officers are apt to be bullies: that we all know jolly well.
- Extract from : « A Poor Man's House » by Stephen Sydney Reynolds
Synonyms for bullies
- annoyer
- antagonizer
- bludgeon
- bluster
- browbeat
- browbeater
- buffalo
- bulldoze
- bulldozer
- coerce
- coercer
- cow
- despotize
- domineer
- dragoon
- enforce
- harass
- harrier
- hector
- insolent
- intimidator
- lean on
- menace
- oppress
- oppressor
- overbear
- persecute
- persecutor
- pest
- rascal
- ride roughshod
- rowdy
- ruffian
- showboat
- swagger
- tease
- terrorize
- threaten
- torment
- tormenter
- torture
- tough
- turn on the heat
- tyrannize
- walk heavy
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019