BULLDOZE Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'bulldoze' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of bulldoze are browbeat , bully , cow , and intimidate . While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats. // bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

Q: When can 'browbeat' be used instead of 'bulldoze'?

The words browbeat and bulldoze can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment. // browbeat the witness into a contradiction

Q: In what contexts can 'bully' take the place of 'bulldoze'?

While the synonyms bully and bulldoze are close in meaning, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior. // bullied into giving up their lunch money

Q: When is it sensible to use 'cow' instead of 'bulldoze'?

Although the words cow and bulldoze have much in common, cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost. // not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

Q: When might 'intimidate' be a better fit than 'bulldoze'?

The words intimidate and bulldoze are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another. // intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

bulldoze

verb

ˈbu̇l-ˌdōz

Definition of bulldoze next

as in to push

to force one's way bulldozed through the crowd at the arena, urgently trying to find the bathroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to intimidate

to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats one of those gatherings at which high-pressure sales reps try to bulldoze naive people into buying time-shares

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word bulldoze different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of bulldoze are browbeat, bully, cow, and intimidate. While all these words mean "to frighten into submission," bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

When can browbeat be used instead of bulldoze?

The words browbeat and bulldoze can be used in similar contexts, but browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

In what contexts can bully take the place of bulldoze?

While the synonyms bully and bulldoze are close in meaning, bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

When is it sensible to use cow instead of bulldoze?

Although the words cow and bulldoze have much in common, cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

When might intimidate be a better fit than bulldoze?

The words intimidate and bulldoze are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bulldoze Sorokin and others worry that an unrestored Marshall could easily be bulldozed into a park or a greenspace. —

Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024 In a way, Bad Monkey feels like Lawrence’s do-over, with Vaughn perfectly suited to bulldoze and banter his way through a comic mystery. —

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2024 In front of their fans at the Bernabeu, Los Blancos were the better team in the first half but were then bulldozed by their bitter rivals who secured a six point lead at the La Liga summit through one of the Catalans' most impressive triumphs behind enemy lines. —

Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 False claims have surfaced online including that the federal government planned to halt search and rescue efforts in order to seize and bulldoze Chimney Rock and that victims were only receiving $750 in aid. —

Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bulldoze

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulldoze

Verb

The open-wheelers are collectively pushing back on a linguistic crackdown by the sport’s governing body.

Melvin Backman, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Game of Thrones pushed the genre snobbery toward fantasy.

Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024