as in browbeating
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in coercion
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025
That anti-bullying mindset has followed him throughout his career.
—Otto Rabe, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Mayor says subpoenas are to stoke fear Walz and Frey, both Democrats, have called the probe a bullying tactic meant to quell political opposition.
—Steve Karnowski, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Ellison is reframing bullying as a long-term issue that requires accountability, compassion and sustained engagement, rather than simple reassurance.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Adjective
Today, Lewinsky is an anti-bullying activist, a TV producer, and the host of the podcast Reclaimed—whose title, for her, holds multiple significant meanings.
—Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025
That anti-bullying mindset has followed him throughout his career.
—Otto Rabe, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Beauty is about the societal conditions that would make the drug in question so irresistible, updating the plastic surgery satire of Nip/Tuck to raise its eyebrow in the direction of social media, relentless advertising and youthful culture of bullying and peer pressure.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Mayor says subpoenas are to stoke fear Walz and Frey, both Democrats, have called the probe a bullying tactic meant to quell political opposition.
—Steve Karnowski, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
The leaders of Canada and France demonstrated how to make the same point — but with dignity — about standing firm against bullying.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Ellison is reframing bullying as a long-term issue that requires accountability, compassion and sustained engagement, rather than simple reassurance.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullying
Noun
-
When energy security is pursued through coercion, legal shortcuts, or discretionary intervention, those foundations weaken.—
Maria Mendiluce,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
To overthrow a government that uses brutality and coercion to cling to power and whose militancy had made their country an international pariah, impoverishing its citizens.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Labor Department inspector general's office has interviewed staff in connection with the investigation, which followed a complaint that Chavez-DeRemer was having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and abusing her office.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Benny isn’t abusing his daughter.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The man arrested for Tuesday’s attack, Anthony Kazmierczak, faces a charge of forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Omar, according to a complaint filed in federal court.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
On the 2025 framing case, the jury found Scott guilty of misappropriating a person's identity to harm reputation and of intimidating a witness, but not guilty of two counts of bail jumping.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
What frustrated her most was that the issue refused to stay resolved.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
-
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
-
He was previously charged with domestic violence, intimidation, possession of a weapon, violation of a court order and vehicle theft, the agency said.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
This week, Scott was convicted of witness intimidation by a jury.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Kids will love sending this Dilophosaurus sauntering across the floor, frightening everything and everyone in his path.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The bulk of the album has been painted with a similarly ascetic palette.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Despite his limitations, Joe displayed an impressive degree of ascetic discipline and a ravenous desire for God.—
Christian Wiman,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
As priorities are refreshed and budgets defended, the pressure to demonstrate productivity in visible ways becomes the default response.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer The research team showed that thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer to a perovskite surface suppresses defect initiation from iodide loss and enhances long-term stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullying. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
