Bullying — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈbu̇-lē-iŋ/ bul·ly·ing

Meaning & Definition of Bullying

Bullying (noun)

  1. abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc., the actions and behavior of a bully

Bullying (adjective)

  1. prone to or characterized by overbearing mistreatment and domination of others

Bullying (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in browbeating

    similar: browbeating, ascetic, monastic, monkish, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching, dour, gruff, dogged, intractable, obstinate, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, uncharitable, unforgiving, demanding, exacting, austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, tough
    opposite: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant, easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant

Bullying (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in bulldozing, browbeating

    similar: browbeating, bulldozing, arm-twisting, coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, force, pressure, fear, intimidation, menace, sword, terror, terrorism, threat, violence, squeeze, squeeze play, might, muscle, potency, puissance, strength, hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness, strain, stress
    opposite: agreement, approval, consent, permission, convincing, persuasion, reason, suasion

Bullying (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to inflict physical or emotional harm upon

    "the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates"

    similar: abusing, brutalizing, ill-treating, ill-using, kicking around, maltreating, manhandling, messing over (slang), mishandling, mistreating, misusing, taking apart
    related: molesting, outraging, violating, harassing, harming, hurting, injuring, oppressing, persecuting, tormenting, torturing, burning, sandbagging, victimizing, wronging, beating (up), messing (up), roughing (up), working (over)
    near: caring (for), cherishing, fostering, nurturing, babying, catering (to), coddling, favoring, gratifying, humoring, indulging, mollycoddling, pampering, spoiling

  2. to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

    "the manager was fired for bullying employees"

    similar: blackjacking, bogarting, browbeating, bulldozing, bullyragging, cowing, hectoring, intimidating, strong-arming, picking on
    related: blustering, trash-talking, affrighting, alarming, frightening, horrifying, scaring, shocking, spooking, startling, terrifying, menacing, terrorizing, threatening, badgering, harassing, hounding, bludgeoning, coercing, compelling, constraining, dragooning, forcing, making, obliging, pressing, pressuring, pushing around, demoralizing, psyching (out), unmanning, unnerving, discomposing, disconcerting, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, upsetting
    near: cheering, comforting, consoling, reassuring, solacing, soothing, emboldening, encouraging, heartening, steeling, convincing, persuading

Related Entry: Bully (verb)

Bully is a different word from Bullying. The synonyms below are for bully, not for bullying.

  1. to inflict physical or emotional harm upon

    "the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates"

    similar: abuse, brutalize, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over (slang), mishandle, mistreat, misuse, take apart
    related: molest, outrage, violate, harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture, burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong, beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)
    near: care (for), cherish, foster, nurture, baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

  2. to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

    "the manager was fired for bullying employees"

    similar: blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bullyrag, cow, hector, intimidate, strong-arm, pick on
    related: bluster, trash-talk, affright, alarm, frighten, horrify, scare, shock, spook, startle, terrify, menace, terrorize, threaten, badger, harass, hound, bludgeon, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, force, make, oblige, press, pressure, push around, demoralize, psych (out), unman, unnerve, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, upset
    near: cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe, embolden, encourage, hearten, steel, convince, persuade

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bullying

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bullying:

Slang: messing over
browbeating, ascetic, monastic, monkish, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching, dour, gruff, dogged, intractable, obstinate, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, uncharitable, unforgiving, demanding, exacting, austere

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bullying

Words with the opposite meaning of Bullying:

clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant, easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable

Related Words for Bullying

molesting, outraging, violating, harassing, harming, hurting, injuring, oppressing, persecuting, tormenting, torturing, burning, sandbagging, victimizing, wronging, beating (up), messing (up), roughing (up), working (over), blustering, trash-talking, affrighting, alarming, frightening, horrifying, scaring, shocking, spooking, startling, terrifying

Near Antonyms of Bullying

caring (for), cherishing, fostering, nurturing, babying, catering (to), coddling, favoring, gratifying, humoring, indulging, mollycoddling, pampering, spoiling, cheering, comforting, consoling, reassuring, solacing, soothing, emboldening, encouraging, heartening, steeling, persuading

Origin & Etymology of Bullying

First known use: 1742

Frequently Asked Questions about Bullying

What does "Bullying" mean?

"Bullying" means abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc., the actions and behavior of a bully. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc., the actions and behavior of a bully. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bullying"?

Other words for "Bullying" include browbeating, ascetic, monastic, monkish, determined, firm, resolved and single-minded. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bullying" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bullying"?

There are 157 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bullying". Common alternatives include browbeating, ascetic, monastic, monkish, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast and unflinching.

What is the opposite of "Bullying"?

Antonyms of "Bullying" include clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant and easy. Near antonyms include caring (for), cherishing, fostering and nurturing.

How do you use "Bullying" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bullying" in a sentence: "the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates"; "the manager was fired for bullying employees".

Is "Bullying" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bullying" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Bullying"?

"Bullying" is pronounced /ˈbu̇-lē-iŋ/ and divided into syllables as bul·ly·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Bullying"?

First known use: 1742.