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

Instead, it may frequently be linked to childhood traumas like bullying, parental divorce, and abuse. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025

Whether that's because bullying would have subsided anyway or because the ordinance itself is causing kids to think twice is anyone's guess. —Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The Village of Pewaukee recently enacted a new anti-bullying ordinance, but no citations have been issued yet. —Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025

Since his tragic death, Manes has become an advocate for anti-bullying initiative and also wrote a book about her son’s experience. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 22 Sep. 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.