Meaning & use
mean bully
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Meanings
phrasecountableinformal
A person who habitually intimidates or hurts others and does so in a spiteful, unkind way.
Grammar: Countable noun phrase; can be plural ('mean bullies') and takes articles ('a mean bully').
Patterns
- a mean bully
- the mean bully in class
- act like a mean bully
The new student was targeted by a mean bully who mocked his accent.
She stood up to the mean bully and told him to stop bothering the younger kids.
Teachers often overlook the quiet mean bully who spreads rumors instead of using fists.
phrasecountable
A person who uses power or strength to force others to do what they want, especially in a petty or malicious manner.
Grammar: Often used with 'a' or 'the'; can be modified by adjectives like 'classic' or 'typical'.
Patterns
- a classic mean bully
- behave like a mean bully
- the office mean bully
The manager was a mean bully who humiliated employees in front of everyone.
He played the role of the mean bully in the school play, but in real life he was gentle.
Online, a mean bully can hide behind a fake name and post cruel comments.
Word forms
| plural | mean bullies |
|---|
Common combinations
- a mean bully
- Everyone avoided him because he was a mean bully.
- act like a mean bully
- Stop acting like a mean bully and apologize.
- classic mean bully
- He was the classic mean bully who took lunch money from smaller kids.
- mean bully tactics
- The coach used mean bully tactics to motivate the team.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tyrant
- A tyrant is a cruel ruler with absolute power, often in a political context; 'mean bully' is more personal and everyday.
- tormentor
- A tormentor causes ongoing suffering, often physically or emotionally; 'mean bully' emphasizes spitefulness and intimidation.
- intimidator
- An intimidator frightens others to get what they want; 'mean bully' adds a sense of petty cruelty.
Opposites
Commonly confused: mean bully or bully? mean bully or mean?
mean bully vs bully
A bully is anyone who intimidates others, but 'mean bully' stresses that the person is also spiteful and unkind.
mean bully vs mean
As an adjective, 'mean' means unkind or stingy; as part of 'mean bully', it describes the bully's character.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'mean bully' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A mean bully is someone who intimidates and is unkind, so people avoid them. Option 0 is wrong because helping classmates contradicts 'mean'. Option 2 is wrong because donating to charity is generous, not mean. Option 3 is wrong because organizing a party is not bullying.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mean bully”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.