bullying

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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

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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

Examples of bullying in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, the game – mandatory for all high school students – was also used as an instrument of institutionalized bullying of younger students by older ones, with physical attacks on younger students built into the game. —Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 29 May 2026

The Fulton family met with All Saints administrators at least three times to discuss the ongoing bullying of their son, the lawsuit says. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026

Adjective

An ice cream shop in Plainfield, Illinois, has launched an anti-bullying campaign after an incident with a customer. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 31 May 2026

In recent years, Lewinsky has reemerged in the public eye, becoming an anti-bullying advocate and public speaker. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 1 May 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.