bull 1 of 5

noun (1)

Definition of bullnext
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority the head office issued a bull banning the use of alcohol at all on-site social functions

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bull

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈbu̇l How to pronounce bull (audio)
slang
as in policeman
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level the town's drug dealers and bulls were well acquainted with one another

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bull

3 of 5

noun (3)

slang
1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing an interview filled with the usual bull about how seriously she takes the art of acting

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2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense a guy who's always trying to sell some sucker a line of bull

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bull

4 of 5

verb (1)

as in to push
to force one's way the beleaguered governor bulled through the crowd of reporters without answering a single question

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bull

5 of 5

verb (2)

slang
as in to brag
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess no one bought all his bulling about how he had beaten the stock market

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Example 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 bull
Noun
Watching a giant blue bull move through the Nevada desert feels surreal, and with Ukrainian collaborators building it, the piece strongly shows cultural identity and resilience. — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The results reignited debate over whether AI spending is sustainable and gave both bulls and Nvidia itself new evidence for continued growth. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Ashton Jeanty bulls in from 4-yards out. — Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025 The 49ers’ lead climbed to 27-10 in the fourth quarter when Brian Robinson chugged 18 yards and bulled past a Giants cornerback for a touchdown 25 seconds. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bull
  1. decree
  2. policeman
  3. rhetoric
  4. nonsense
  5. push
  6. brag
  7. edict
  8. cop
Noun
  • Iran is determined to smother any internal unrest Rezaei’s appointment came in a recent set of decrees by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, that formally set Iran’s new senior leadership, including top military posts.
    — Lee Keath, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The decree renames one of the four Great Lakes, while providing a legal and philosophical justification for the act.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of decree
Noun
  • Thaksin Shinawatra, the larger-than-life former policeman and telecom billionaire, built up enormous power as prime minister in the early 2000s, incurring the disdain of royalists.
    — Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026
  • You’ll be attacked in the street for that, the policeman appeared to be telling him.
    — Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of policeman
Noun
  • Others have felt personally attacked by Kennedy’s anti-establishment rhetoric.
    — Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Galliano berated a French couple with antisemitic and anti-Asian rhetoric in February 2011, which led to his conviction.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of rhetoric
Noun
  • Statham, who turned 59 this summer and is still in incredible shape, performs on his usual high-octane, no-time-for-nonsense level.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The nonsense began last year as a stunt tied to a cryptocurrency group, but more recently has been linked to groups protesting league policies.
    — Greg Cote August 23, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of nonsense
Verb
  • Adebo could still push Banks, while Phillips has secured the slot job.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • That more than doubled its stock, pushing its market cap above $9 billion, adding to the bottom line of Thrive and Kushner, who is vice chairman and has personal holdings.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • In a recent interview with the right-wing publication the Daily Wire, a police chief in the tiny town of Sahuarita, Arizona bragged that his officers have been using them for years.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
  • This lineup runs drink to dessert—a big-batch punch, two easy apps, sides with seasonal personality, a showstopping roast, and a cheesecake to brag about—and most of it can be made ahead, so you’re not stuck in the kitchen when the doorbell rings.
    — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of brag
Noun
  • Countless speakers left the Pale of Settlement – the territory in Eastern Europe where Jews had been granted permission to live under an edict of the Russian czars.
    — Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The president’s orders and edicts have no basis in reality, are nonsensical and are making our nation significantly less safe.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of edict
Noun
  • Bernadette explains the racial nuances the Guardians might not know as newcomers to Earth, echoing the landmark 1971 Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic series, which attempts to bring the space cops down to Earth by exposing them to racial strife.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In the years since Shakur's murder, what exactly happened in that hail of bullets -- and who pulled the trigger -- was obscured by a lack of physical evidence, feuding cops and the gangland code of silence.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cop

Phrases Containing bull

Browse Nearby Words

bulky
bull
bull's-eye
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Cite this Entry

“Bull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bull. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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