English Meaning & Definitions
The act of seeking to harm, intimidate, or coerce someone perceived as vulnerable, often through repeated aggressive behavior.
- “The school implemented a zero-tolerance policy to address the rise in cyber bullying among students.”
- “Workplace bullying can have a devastating impact on an employee's mental health and productivity.”
The present participle of 'bully', referring to the act of using superior strength or influence to intimidate someone.
- “He was caught bullying his younger brother into doing his chores.”
- “The manager was accused of bullying staff members into working unpaid overtime.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “bullying”.
Derived from the Middle Dutch word 'boele', meaning 'lover' or 'brother'. By the 16th century, the meaning shifted to 'fine fellow' or 'sweetheart', but by the 17th century, it evolved into a term for a blustering, quarrelsome person who intimidates those weaker than themselves.
Think of a 'bull' in a china shop—it pushes others around and causes damage because it is bigger and stronger.
Frequently Asked Questions About “bullying”
1. What is the meaning of “bullying” in English?
In English, bullying (noun) is defined as: “The act of seeking to harm, intimidate, or coerce someone perceived as vulnerable, often through repeated aggressive behavior.”.
2. How do you use “bullying” in a sentence?
“The school implemented a zero-tolerance policy to address the rise in cyber bullying among students.”
3. What are English synonyms of “bullying”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “bullying”?
Derived from the Middle Dutch word 'boele', meaning 'lover' or 'brother'. By the 16th century, the meaning shifted to 'fine fellow' or 'sweetheart', but by the 17th century, it evolved into a term for a blustering, quarrelsome person who intimidates those weaker than themselves.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.