as in browbeating
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as in coercion
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bullying
Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
As a direct result of the case, the school district adopted a sweeping set of anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies specifically designed to protect LGBTQ+ students.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
Season 27 winner Bobby Finger took to TikTok to respond to Baldwin’s claims, challenging her theory that her early elimination was the result of a strategic bullying campaign.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
The only other item on the ballot in this election is in Poway’s District 2, where voters will decide whether to recall City Councilmember Tony Blain, who is accused of harassing and bullying residents.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Adjective
Fans have become so invested in the series’ twisted love triangle at the heart of the plot that creator Jenny Han issued an anti-bullying message.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
As a direct result of the case, the school district adopted a sweeping set of anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies specifically designed to protect LGBTQ+ students.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
And that risk was calculated after controlling for a range of confounding factors that are known to influence health, like bullying or lack of parental involvement.
—NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
Season 27 winner Bobby Finger took to TikTok to respond to Baldwin’s claims, challenging her theory that her early elimination was the result of a strategic bullying campaign.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Similarly, stealing from Indian government officials, notorious for bullying those below them in the chain of power, was worn as a badge of honor.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
The only other item on the ballot in this election is in Poway’s District 2, where voters will decide whether to recall City Councilmember Tony Blain, who is accused of harassing and bullying residents.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullying
Noun
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In blockade and quarantine contingencies, lawfare and economic coercion might matter as much as air-naval power.—
Eyck Freymann,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
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Since the movie's release in September, the relationship between the two has soured and in the weeks leading up to the bond hearing the filmmaker in court filings accused Goudreau of deceit, financial coercion and threatening conduct.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The pair also pretended that Tammy was allegedly abusing them.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Archbishop Mitty product and San Jose native Aaron Gordon scored 18 while abusing Podziemski and other Warriors guards in the low post.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Indeed, one of General George Washington’s greatest achievements was to avoid being cornered and forced to capitulate to these intimidating legions in the war’s early years.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Tips for Making Coconut Cake Layer cakes can be intimidating for hobby bakers.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 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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Jason Harrell, 46, agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts of intimidation, one misdemeanor count of intimidation, and two counts of battery.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Nov. 2025
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There is no place for intimidation or ego tripping disguised as ‘leadership,’ or for using titles and stages to instill fear and shame instead of empower.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Kids will love sending this Dilophosaurus sauntering across the floor, frightening everything and everyone in his path.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
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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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How can a kindly, God-fearing, and ascetic novice monk compete against that?—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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For those who do know him, the optics are less about political pressure and more about simple, unadulterated pride.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Mexico enters the 2026 World Cup with the excitement and pressure of co-hosting the tournament, eager to finally break its long-standing barrier of reaching the Round of 16.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullying. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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