1
as in abusing
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intimidating
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
the manager was fired for bullying employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in browbeating
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in coercion
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bullying
Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2023
The student then met with the school’s principal and vice principal – an anti-bullying specialist, according to the state school directory – and reported the threats of violence made against her before she was assaulted, according to the lawsuit.
—Celina Tebor, CNN, 13 Feb. 2023
Alyshia Hull, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
He had never been given the Co-op's bullying and harassment policy, nor trained on its contents.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Flinn said young people can call for a variety of reasons, often stemming from a difficulty managing strong emotions related to bullying, their relation with their parents, pressure to succeed, or a breakup.
—Laura Guido, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Verb
That's why experts say more anti-bullying intervention is needed – from both parents and schools.
—Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2023
The student then met with the school’s principal and vice principal – an anti-bullying specialist, according to the state school directory – and reported the threats of violence made against her before she was assaulted, according to the lawsuit.
—Celina Tebor, CNN, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
If an employee is perceived as less serious, competent or capable — even if undeserved — their ideas may be discounted, they could be passed over for promotions, face workplace bullying or judgment from their coworkers.
—Alyshia Hull, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
He had never been given the Co-op's bullying and harassment policy, nor trained on its contents.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Butler and Malkovich turn bullying into hambone art, and Isaac magnetizes our sympathy as the daredevil but still relatively civilized Nick, who’s caught in the middle of all this.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Flinn said young people can call for a variety of reasons, often stemming from a difficulty managing strong emotions related to bullying, their relation with their parents, pressure to succeed, or a breakup.
—Laura Guido, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullying
Verb
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And when markets fail, public institutions must act to prevent dominant players from abusing their power.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
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Langley says Axon is a monopolist abusing its market position to choke out competition.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For contractors, welcoming verification may seem intimidating at first.—
Brynn Cooksey,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Extend your stay in Portorosso with the 2021 short Ciao Alberto, which follows Alberto working for the intimidating fisherman Massimo (Marco Barricelli).—
Sydni Ellis,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Across the Pacific, the signs of Chinese economic coercion and military intimidation are everywhere.—
Chris Coons,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
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Without a civilizational understanding of Tibetans’ relation to the Dalai Lama and his central place in Tibetan Buddhism, Beijing’s only tool is coercion.—
Tenzin Dorjee,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instances of swatting have been plaguing the nation for years, with fake shooting threats frightening the public and forcing schools, hospitals, grocery stores, office buildings, and airports into temporary lockdowns.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Since then, attorneys and judges have overseen multiple lenient plea deals and case dismissals, while local prosecutors reviewed hundreds of active and resolved cases that Tran investigated.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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It is designed to get Jew-hatred and racist ideology out of our schools, to protect all children and to ensure that Jewish children and educators — like everyone else — can learn and work in an environment free from harassment, intimidation or violence.—
Daniel Klein,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
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There can be an intimidation factor to playing at Yankee Stadium, but Guerrero has never felt it in the slightest.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, the ascetic value of fasting from meat required that the person otherwise enjoy it.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
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Greens embodied the ascetic lushness of the farm-to-table movement, which, in Northern California, was synonymous with the Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse.—
John Birdsall,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The decision comes following months of mass deportations and pressure to close Alligator Alcatraz, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility located in the Florida Everglades.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, Europe is battling its own demons, including a surge in far-right nationalism and economic pressures.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullying. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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