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
Relevance
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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2023
The student then met with the school’s principal and vice principal – an anti-bullying specialist, according to the state school directory – and reported the threats of violence made against her before she was assaulted, according to the lawsuit.
—Celina Tebor, CNN, 13 Feb. 2023
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Sep. 2025
In the documentary, Tami shared that during seventh and eighth grade, Khloe was accused multiple times of bullying.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Newsmax argues that Fox has wielded a similar playbook to keep it from growing, bullying distributors from carrying its channels by conditioning carriage deals on them agreeing not to carry competing right-leaning news channels.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Verb
That's why experts say more anti-bullying intervention is needed – from both parents and schools.
—Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2023
The student then met with the school’s principal and vice principal – an anti-bullying specialist, according to the state school directory – and reported the threats of violence made against her before she was assaulted, according to the lawsuit.
—Celina Tebor, CNN, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
As the bullying escalated, Johnson contacted the district about trying to have her kids moved to another school.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Sep. 2025
In the documentary, Tami shared that during seventh and eighth grade, Khloe was accused multiple times of bullying.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Fed Governors shouldn’t be subject to bullying by the President or members of this Administration as is clearly happening today.
—Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Newsmax argues that Fox has wielded a similar playbook to keep it from growing, bullying distributors from carrying its channels by conditioning carriage deals on them agreeing not to carry competing right-leaning news channels.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullying
Verb
-
More importantly, Penske also describes this dynamic as antitrust behavior from a company abusing what the federal government has already described as Google’s monopoly status in the realm of Internet search.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
As part of his plea agreement, Styner admitted to abusing a total of a dozen victims.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s calm aura (Jayden Daniels), confident aura (Joe Burrow) and intimidating aura (Maxx Crosby).—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Romero added that the calls were particularly intimidating at this raw time of heightened political tension and rhetoric.—
Sasha Pezenik,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Many journalists don’t want to lose access and are subject to coercion and intimidation that can influence their reporting.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Its alignment with figures like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un symbolizes the isolation and reputational decay of a regime that relies on coercion rather than consent.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Husseini’s successor of sorts, his distant cousin Yasser Arafat, also resorted to murder and intimidation.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This decision undermines basic constitutional protections and deepens the climate of intimidation against both immigrants and people of color.—
Norma Chavez-Peterson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, the ascetic value of fasting from meat required that the person otherwise enjoy it.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Greens embodied the ascetic lushness of the farm-to-table movement, which, in Northern California, was synonymous with the Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse.—
John Birdsall,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
By the time the impeachment trial commenced, the top-down pressure from prominent, national Republicans could be seen and felt.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
His game plan was to move forward, pressure Volkanovski and land with power.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullying. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share