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
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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
show current usage.
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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
Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
No one should have to experience hate or bullying.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
Myran offered a history of bullying as an example.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Verb
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
Adjective
But this bullying was a glitch too far.
—Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
No one should have to experience hate or bullying.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
Now he's accused the Indianapolis Democrat of bullying and threatening him.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
Myran offered a history of bullying as an example.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullying
Verb
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He was hit with a massive $50,000 fine for verbally abusing officials back in 2023, and he was slapped with a $14,000 fine for a violent gesture during a game against the Buffalo Bills last season.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Trump was accused in that trial of abusing power by withholding aid to Ukraine to pressure its government to investigate then-former Vice President Joe Biden and his son.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After back-to-back relegations and a tepid start to League One, this once upbeat and intimidating stadium had gone stale.—
Kaya Kaynak,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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Giant skeletons, scarecrows and spooky décor in intimidating sizes are a growing trend.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said Tokyo and New Delhi are deepening their multi-layered cooperation as part of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, referring to bilateral ties that seek a free, open, peaceful, prosperous and coercion-free Indo-Pacific.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The study of gender represents the kind of free inquiry that allows people to decide for themselves how to live, free of coercion or government control.—
Elizabeth Anne Wood,
The Conversation,
21 Oct. 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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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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Would-be autocrats create environments of fear and powerlessness, using intimidation, overwhelming force or political and legal attacks, and other coercive tactics to force acquiescence and chill democratic pushback.—
Shelley Inglis,
The Conversation,
19 Oct. 2025
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Here in America, ICE no longer acts like an agency of law enforcement but like an instrument of intimidation.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 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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As Monaco ramped up the second-half pressure, with Spurs seemingly having no answer for the pace and fervour with which the Ligue 1 side attacked Frank’s defence from all angles, Netherlands international Teze looked set to break the deadlock.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Some of Microsoft’s AI competitors are facing intense pressure to keep young users safe on their platforms.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullying. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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