bullying

1 of 2

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 2

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

Pugh, finally fed-up with all the negative commentary, shared a video response calling out the bullying. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Nov. 2025

The act requires the Board of Education to take steps to ensure bullying is not tolerated in schools, and in 2018, cyberbullying was added to the state’s definition of harassment. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025

Adjective

After Reena's murder, her parents worked on anti-bullying initiatives throughout Canada. —Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

Snoop Dogg has partnered with GLAAD to support Spirit Day, the LGBTQ+ youth anti-bullying initiative. —Michaela Zee, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025

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.