stalker

noun

stalk·​er ˈstȯ-kər How to pronounce stalker (audio)
plural stalkers
1
: a person who stalks : a person who pursues someone obsessively and aggressively to the point of harassment
celebrity stalkers
In 1990, California was the first state to pass a stalking law that made it a crime to follow, threaten, or harass someone—especially if the stalker threatened violence.George
Eighty-seven percent of stalkers are men. Women tend to be victimized by lone male stalkers whom they know, while men are more likely to be stalked by strangers, and half of male victims' stalkers had an accomplice.Matthew Klein
2
: a person or animal that pursues quarry or prey stealthily
a deer stalker
Though I catch my share of trout, I do it by being a good stalker and knowing where the fish lie …Bill Barich
Polar bears are superb stalkers, and have a way of suddenly appearing heart-stoppingly close.John P. Wiley, Jr.

Examples of stalker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are dozens of reasons someone might not want their photo online — from having dealt with a stalker to being employed in a role in which party photos are frowned upon. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 23 June 2023 Oh, damn, Emily frames Luke as her longtime stalker to Campbell. Emma Specter, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2023 Be on alert, the silence screams in this twee stalker anthem. Jessica Gentile, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023 There have been biographies by her friends, her foes, her siblings, her household staff, two of her husbands, and two of her stalkers. Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023 Look Who’s Stalking follows a mother who, after the death of her stalker, pieces her life back together with the help of her new personal assistant. Josie Howell | Jhowell@al.com, al, 22 July 2023 Between 2018 and 2021, Oregonians submitted over 64,000 requests for protective orders, including against stalkers, perpetrators of domestic violence, people who abuse elderly relatives and more. Austindedios, oregonlive, 30 Aug. 2023 In the middle of the interview, a stalker attempted to storm the stage. Vulture, 22 Aug. 2023 What's a The Last of Us landscape without some runners or stalkers ready to attack? Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 2 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stalker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of stalker was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near stalker

Cite this Entry

“Stalker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalker. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

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