bul·ly·ing
ˈbu̇-lē-iŋ 
ˈbə-
: abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc. : the actions and behavior of a bully
Her own childhood had been made miserable by bullying …—
Michael Holroyd
Michael Holroyd… underestimates the plain meanness behind the pleasure people take in bullying.—George F. Will
George F. Will
: prone to or characterized by overbearing mistreatment and domination of others
… dominated the program but did so in a bullying manner that made him appear crabbier and more churlish than ever.—Tom Shales
Tom ShalesAt his worst, he was just another loud, boorish, bullying … drunk …—Bartholomew Gill
Bartholomew GillThe bullying husband is … living out a way of being that he learned at home as a child.—Robert Karen
Robert KarenExamples of bullying in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Julieta Camarillo Diaz,
AJC.com,
6 July 2026
Our country right now is mired in a level of bullying and intolerance that, for some, might feed their fears, but won’t feed their family.
—
Dawn M. Turner,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2026
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
23 June 2026
Readers are encouraged to think about themes of anti-bullying and unity through the story.
—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bullying
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.
Noun
Sometimes, victims are told that bullying is a misunderstanding, and the bully should be forgiven.
—
Julieta Camarillo Diaz,
AJC.com,
6 July 2026
Our country right now is mired in a level of bullying and intolerance that, for some, might feed their fears, but won’t feed their family.
—
Dawn M. Turner,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2026
Adjective
Investigators are still verifying the suspect’s claim, but regional education officials immediately ordered schools to step up anti-bullying campaigns.
—
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
23 June 2026
Readers are encouraged to think about themes of anti-bullying and unity through the story.
—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bullying
Cite this Entry
“Bullying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullying. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
