1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

bullying 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of bullyingnext
as in browbeating

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

bullying

2 of 3

noun

as in coercion

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

bullying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of bully
1
as in abusing
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bullying
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
Noun
The same people are more likely to report aggression, bullying and anti-social behavior. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 As long as allergies, medical excuses, dietary concerns and even preferences are politely stated and not made the focus of the event, reasonable accommodations should be made without fear of coercion or bullying. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
Marie-Louise is enraged one minute, subservient the next, bullying the staff while throwing banquets for Nazi officials. — David Denby, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Trump has been bullying Canada since the start of his second term. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bullying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullying
  1. resolved
  2. coercion
  3. abusing
  4. intimidating
  5. ascetic
  6. intimidation
  7. frightening
  8. monastic
Adjective
  • This view helpfully shows key numbers (such as resolved requests, involvement rate, resolution rate) at the top, along with a funnel that visualizes visualizing how requests are resolved (with AI or humans).
    — Dianna Gunn, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026
  • There's a difference between a closed ticket and a resolved issue.
    — Amit Mathradas, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of resolved
Noun
  • But when a generation stops believing that an unjust rule has legitimacy, coercion becomes increasingly expensive.
    — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Their rule in Yemen has inflicted suffering on people through corruption, coercion, aid diversion, and war.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of coercion
Verb
  • At no point did anyone believe that Peyton Manning or SNL espoused abusing kids.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026
  • According to Dutch News, Ben Saunders struggled with health issues and had various run-ins with law enforcement over the years, including a 2016 community service sentence for abusing a traffic official.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of abusing
Verb
  • In 2022, the court convicted two leaders of a Kosovo war veterans’ association for intimidating witnesses by publicizing leaked confidential documents.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Critics say Mullin’s policy is aimed at intimidating voters, will upend longstanding American norms, and violate a law keeping armed forces out of polling places that dates back to the end of the Civil War.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of intimidating
Adjective
  • And there were posters tearing apart his otherworldly self-projection as a fakir, or ascetic, depicting him in his monogrammed suits, designer sunglasses, and aircraft.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of ascetic
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Democrats and independents were more concerned than Republicans about eligible voters being able to cast their ballots without facing obstacles or intimidation, the poll found.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There is also a level of intimidation — The Athletic encountered a reluctance from individuals and organisations to speak on the record.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of intimidation
Verb
  • Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 June 2026
  • This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.
    — Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • But the units are monastic, at least by the standards of Nashville upperclassmen, who usually live in singles or in apartments off campus.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 26 Aug. 2026
  • When the Dark Ages descended on the ancient world, Benedict of Nursia ignited a monastic revival that would establish thousands of monasteries and train generations of devoted readers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of monastic

Browse Nearby Words

bullyboys
bullying
bullyrag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullying. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of volition

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All