Nominal Forms
Infinitive: to bully
Participle: bullied
Gerund: bullying
Cognates
-
Indicative
Present
| I | bully |
| you | bully |
| he;she;it | bullies |
| we | bully |
| you | bully |
| they | bully |
Perfect
| I | have bullied |
| you | have bullied |
| he;she;it | has bullied |
| we | have bullied |
| you | have bullied |
| they | have bullied |
Past
| I | bullied |
| you | bullied |
| he;she;it | bullied |
| we | bullied |
| you | bullied |
| they | bullied |
Pluperfect
| I | had bullied |
| you | had bullied |
| he;she;it | had bullied |
| we | had bullied |
| you | had bullied |
| they | had bullied |
Future
| I | will bully |
| you | will bully |
| he;she;it | will bully |
| we | will bully |
| you | will bully |
| they | will bully |
Future Perfect
| I | will have bullied |
| you | will have bullied |
| he;she;it | will have bullied |
| we | will have bullied |
| you | will have bullied |
| they | will have bullied |
Subjunctive
Present
| I | bully |
| you | bully |
| he;she;it | bully |
| we | bully |
| you | bully |
| they | bully |
Perfect
| I | have bullied |
| you | have bullied |
| he;she;it | have bullied |
| we | have bullied |
| you | have bullied |
| they | have bullied |
Imperfect
| I | bullied |
| you | bullied |
| he;she;it | bullied |
| we | bullied |
| you | bullied |
| they | bullied |
Pluperfect
| I | had bullied |
| you | had bullied |
| he;she;it | had bullied |
| we | had bullied |
| you | had bullied |
| they | had bullied |
Conditional
Present
| I | would bully |
| you | would bully |
| he;she;it | would bully |
| we | would bully |
| you | would bully |
| they | would bully |
Perfect
| I | would have bullied |
| you | would have bullied |
| he;she;it | would have bullied |
| we | would have bullied |
| you | would have bullied |
| they | would have bullied |
Imperative
| you | bully |
| we | Let's bully |
| you | bully |
Verbs conjugated like 'bully'
accompany,
acetify,
acidify,
adsignify,
affy,
alacrify,
alkalify,
ally,
amnesty,
amplify,
angelify,
anglicify,
anglify,
apology,
apply,
arefy,
argufy,
astony,
atrophy,
avowtry, etc. (List truncated at 20 verbs)
Verbs similar to 'bully'
belly,
bull,
cully,
gully,
sully,
ally,
ball,
balls,
beely,
belay,
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- to fill with fear with intent to deter
- browbeat, bulldoze, cow, dastardize, daunt, dishearten, do down, domineer, hector, intimidate, menace, strong-arm
- harass
- intimidate, browbeat, domineer, threaten, terrify, tease, cow
Antonyms
- harass
- comfort, cheer, console, compose
Additional Information
Phrasal Verbs
Etymology
1. From 1530, as a term of endearment, probably a diminutive ( + -y) of Dutch boel (“lover; brother”), from Middle Dutch boel, boele (“brother; lover”), from Old Dutch *buolo, from Proto-Germanic *bōlô (compare Middle Low German bôle (“brother”), Middle High German buole (“brother; close relative; close relation”) (whence German Buhle (“lover”)), Old English Bōla, Bōlla (personal name), diminutive of expressive *bō- (“brother, father”). Compare also Latvian bālinš (“brother”). More at boy.
2. The term acquired a negative connotation during the 17th century; first ‘noisy, blustering fellow’ then ‘a person who is cruel to others’. Possibly influenced by bull (“male cattle”) or via the ‘prostitute's minder’ sense. The positive senses are dated, but survive in phrases such as bully pulpit.
Verbs referencing "bully"
Spanish
bulear.
Sample Sentences
-
[...] brown forester, but I know that the other passengers looked on in a sort of admiring horror, and that presently the boat was put back to the wharf, and as many of the Pioneers as could be coaxed or bullied into going away, were got rid of.
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] night, mingled with Cassy's prudential suggestions, considerably affected his mind. He resolved that nobody should be witness of his encounter with Tom; and determined, if he could not subdue him by bullying, to defer his vengeance, to be wreaked in a more convenient season.
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)