bullying

1 of 3

noun

bul·​ly·​ing ˈbu̇-lē-iŋ 

ˈbə-

: abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc. : the actions and behavior of a bully

Her own childhood had been made miserable by bullying …

—Michael Holroyd

… underestimates the plain meanness behind the pleasure people take in bullying.

—George F. Will

bullying

2 of 3

adjective

: prone to or characterized by overbearing mistreatment and domination of others

… dominated the program but did so in a bullying manner that made him appear crabbier and more churlish than ever.

—Tom Shales

At his worst, he was just another loud, boorish, bullying … drunk …

—Bartholomew Gill

The bullying husband is … living out a way of being that he learned at home as a child.

—Robert Karen

bullying

3 of 3

present participle of bully entry 2

Examples of bullying in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Last month, Central Connecticut State University President Zulma Toro stepped down after the union president filed a complaint of workforce bullying and intimidation against her. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026

Elizabeth Amaya also has a daughter at the school, a senior, and Amaya said her daughter also feels that bullying is a problem and that the school is struggling to recover from the tragedy. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Mourinho stressed the importance of preparing Vinicius emotionally, noting the irony given broader anti-bullying sentiments. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Investigators are still verifying the suspect’s claim, but regional education officials immediately ordered schools to step up anti-bullying campaigns. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1742, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1746, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bullying

• cyberbullying

Legal Definition

bullying

noun

bul·​ly·​ing

ˈbu̇-lē-iŋ, bə-

: acts or written or spoken words intended to intimidate or harass a person or to cause physical harm to a person or his or her property see also cyberbullying

Note: The statutory language used to describe what constitutes bullying differs from state to state.