bullying 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of bullyingnext
as in browbeating

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bullying

2 of 3

noun

as in coercion

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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

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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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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
Attempts to muffle creative voices through bullying and strong-arm tactics are fundamentally anti-American and have become all too common in recent years. — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026 From Beijing’s perspective, restraint in both domains would only lock in Washington’s advantages, leaving China open to bullying and blackmail. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
Among Jackson, Flowers picking apart the Colts’ secondary and Henry bullying anyone in blue for three rushing touchdowns, poor Lou Anarumo, the Colts’ defensive coordinator, could not get out of Week 1 without feeling his seat simmering. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Therapy and support at the current school are often the first steps to help a child recover from bullying. — Ash Jurberg, Parents, 13 Sep. 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
  • Nearly a year later, Brazil’s courts convicted Eduardo of coercion and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other leaders seem resigned to the fact that this 80-year global experiment in cooperative international relations has ceded the floor once again to the world order of coercion that dictated most of human history.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of coercion
Verb
  • Berry’s ex-husband Olivier Martinez accused the actor of physically abusing their 12-year-old son last month.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • As reports of officers abusing Flock have made headlines and the company has become increasingly controversial, hundreds of cities and counties have ended or suspended their contracts with the company, or decided not to renew them.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of abusing
Verb
  • Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese used the term paper tiger to describe someone who appears powerful and intimidating but ultimately poses little threat.
    — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Regan has been accused of threatening and intimidating women who worked for the union’s parent organization, and of physically assaulting one, according to reporting by The Times.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 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
  • But there are several other federal and state statutes barring voter intimidation that could apply.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The framework says support for Israel need not mean endorsing every government decision, and calls on Israel to act against settler intimidation and violence.
    — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullying. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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