Definition of Bully

1. Noun. A cruel and brutal fellow.

Exact synonyms: Hooligan, Roughneck, Rowdy, Ruffian, Tough, Yob, Yobbo, Yobo
Generic synonyms: Aggressor, Assailant, Assaulter, Attacker
Specialized synonyms: Bullyboy, Muscle, Muscleman, Skinhead, Plug-ugly, Tough Guy
Derivative terms: Ruffianly

2. Verb. Be bossy towards. "They want to bully the prisoners "; "Her big brother always bullied her when she was young"
Exact synonyms: Ballyrag, Boss Around, Browbeat, Bullyrag, Hector, Push Around, Strong-arm
Generic synonyms: Intimidate
Specialized synonyms: Domineer, Tyrannise, Tyrannize

3. Adjective. Very good. "You look simply smashing"
Exact synonyms: Bang-up, Corking, Cracking, Dandy, Great, Groovy, Keen, Neat, Nifty, Not Bad, Peachy, Slap-up, Smashing, Swell
Language type: Colloquialism
Similar to: Good

4. Noun. A hired thug.
Generic synonyms: Goon, Hood, Hoodlum, Punk, Strong-armer, Thug, Tough, Toughie

5. Verb. Discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate. "They want to bully the prisoners "
Exact synonyms: Browbeat, Swagger
Generic synonyms: Blarney, Cajole, Coax, Inveigle, Palaver, Sweet-talk, Wheedle

Definition of Bully

1. n. A noisy, blustering fellow, more insolent than courageous; one who is threatening and quarrelsome; an insolent, tyrannical fellow.

2. a. Jovial and blustering; dashing.

3. v. t. To intimidate with threats and by an overbearing, swaggering demeanor; to act the part of a bully toward.

4. v. i. To act as a bully.

5. n. Pickled or canned beef.

Definition of Bully

1. Noun. A person who is cruel to others, especially those who are weaker or have less power. ¹

2. Noun. A hired thug. ¹

3. Noun. A prostitute’s minder; a pimp. ¹

4. Noun. Bully beef. ¹

5. Noun. (context: Sri Lanka slang) The penis. ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To intimidate (someone) as a bully. ¹

7. Verb. (transitive) To act aggressively towards. ¹

8. Adjective. Very good; excellent. ¹

9. Interjection. (often followed by (term for)) Well done! ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Bully

1. wonderful [adj -LIER, -LIEST] / to treat abusively [v -LIED, -LYING, -LIES] - See also: wonderful

Lexicographical Neighbors of Bully

bullshot
bullshots
bullsnake
bullsnakes
bullterrier
bullterriers
bullvalene
bullvalenes
bullweed
bullweeds
bullwhip
bullwhipped
bullwhipping
bullwhips
bullwort
bully-boy
bully beef
bully boy
bully boys
bully off
bully pulpit
bully pulpits
bully tree
bully trees
bullyable
bullyboy
bullyboys
bullycide
bullycides

Literary usage of Bully

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Village Life in China: A Study in Sociology by Arthur Henderson Smith (1899)
"So far as we know, the Chinese bully is a character peculiar to China. ... The traits of a bully among a savage and warlike people such as our ancestors ..."

2. The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events by Frank Moore, Edward Everett (1861)
"bully for you, little Rhody ! Governor Sprague was not very vague, When he said, " Shoulder arms ! little Rhody I " Two regiments raised, and by ev'ry one ..."

3. Forty Years on the Pacific: The Lure of the Great Ocean, a Book of Reference by Frank Coffee (1920)
"As near as any one can come to the date of his birth, "bully" (Captain WH) Hayes was born in ... This condition gave "bully" Hayes all the leeway he wanted. ..."

4. Chief British Poets of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries: Selected Poems by William Allan Neilson, Kenneth Grant Tremayne Webster (1916)
"So 21 'O give me your blessing, father,' he said, ' And pray well for mo for to thrive; If it be my fortune my bully to kill, I swear I '11 neer come home ..."

5. English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child, Helen Child Sargent (1904)
"18 Christy Grahame is to his chamber gone, And for to study, as well might be, Whether to fight with his father dear, Or with hi:i bully Bewick he. ..."

6. A Glossary to the Works of William Shakespeare by Alexander Dyce (1902)
"(I may observe that "bully-ravi" occurs over and over again in Shadwell's Sullen Lenders: see his Works, vol. i. pp. 26, 37, 45, 46, 62, 69, 74, 83, 84, ..."

7. A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant: Embracing English, American, and Anglo by Albert Barrère, Charles Godfrey Leland (1889)
"That's kully, plenty bully for me. Just you gimme the hundred dollars. ... (Common), a bully, a stone or lump of lead tied in the end of a handkerchief (New ..."

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