bullied

From the verb bully: (⇒ conjugate)

bullied is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bul•ly¹ /ˈbʊli/   n., pl. -lies, v., -lied, -ly•ing, adj., interj. 
n. [countable]

1. one who bothers and hurts smaller people:
   The class bully cornered him at his locker and demanded money.

v. 

2. to use one's strength to bother (smaller people) in this way: [~ + object]
   She was bullied constantly at school.
   [~ + object + into + verb-ing]
   bullied into going along with the plan.

adj. 

3. Informal Terms Informal. fine;
   excellent:
   Teddy Roosevelt called the presidency his "bully pulpit,'' because it was an excellent position from which to speak directly to the American people.

interj. 

4. (used to express approval, or sarcastic approval):
   "I did it!'' "Bully for you,'' he mumbled.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bul•ly¹  (bŏŏl′ē), n., pl. -lies, v., -lied, -ly•ing, adj., interj. 
n. 

1. a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.
2. [Archaic.] a man hired to do violence.
3. [Obs.] a pimp;
   procurer.
4. [Obs.] good friend;
   good fellow.
5. [Obs.] sweetheart;
   darling.

v.t. 

6. to act the bully toward;
   intimidate;
   domineer.

v.i. 

7. to be loudly arrogant and overbearing.

adj. 

8. Informal Terms fine;
   excellent;
   very good.
9. dashing;
   jovial;
   high-spirited.

interj. 

10. [Informal.] good! well done!

• Middle Dutch boele lover
• 1530–40

bul′ly•a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 6. cow, browbeat, coerce; terrorize, tyrannize.

bul•ly²  (bŏŏl′ē), n. 

1. Food See bully beef. 

• French bouilli, short for boeuf bouilli boiled meat. See boil¹, beef
• 1865–70

bul•ly³  (bŏŏl′ē), n., pl. -lies. 

1. Sport [Soccer.] a desperate, freewheeling scramble for the ball by a number of players, usually in the goal area.
2. Sport [Field Hockey.] a method of putting the ball into play in which two opponents, facing each other, tap their sticks on the ground near the ball and then make contact with each other's sticks over the ball three times, after which each tries to gain possession of the ball.

• of obscure origin, originally 1860–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bully / ˈbʊlɪ/ noun ( -lies)

1. a person who uses threats or violence in an attempt to harm or intimidate others, often repeatedly
2. a person who ruthlessly exploits a physical or technical advantage

verb ( -lies, -lying, -lied)

1. to use threats or violence, often repeatedly, in an attempt to harm or intimidate (other people)
2. (transitive) followed by into: to make someone do something by using force or repeated questioning: he bullied her into accepting his invitation to the party
3. (transitive) to exploit a physical or technical advantage: the minister was regularly bullied in debate by the opposition

adjective

1. dashing; jolly
2. very good; fine

interjection

1. Also: bully for you well done! bravo!

Etymology: 16th Century (in the sense: sweetheart, hence fine fellow, hence swaggering coward): probably from Middle Dutch boele lover, from Middle High German buole, perhaps childish variant of bruoder brother

bully / ˈbʊlɪ/ noun ( -lies)

1. any of various small freshwater fishes of the genera Gobiomorphus and Philypnodon of New Zealand
   Also called (NZ): pakoko, titarakura, toitoi

Etymology: 20th Century: short for cockabully