Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of intimidating a weaker person to make them do something: "Bullying" refers to the repeated, intentional use of power or aggression to hurt, threaten, or frighten someone perceived as vulnerable.

2. Adjective:

   • Noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others: Describes a person or behavior that is aggressively overbearing, loud, and intimidating.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The school has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.
  • Cyberbullying is a serious problem among teenagers.

• Adjective:

  • His bullying tone made everyone in the meeting uncomfortable.
  • She left the job to escape her bullying boss.

Advanced Usage

• "To stand up to bullying": to resist or confront bullying behavior.

  • It's important to teach children to stand up to bullying.

• "A culture of bullying": an environment where bullying behavior is common or tolerated.

  • The investigation revealed a culture of bullying within the organization.

Variants and Related Words

• Bully (n/v): (Noun) A person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker. (Verb) To act like a bully; to use strength or power to harm or intimidate.

  • He was a bully in school. (Noun)
  • The older kids tried to bully him into giving them his lunch money. (Verb)

• Bullying (adj, present participle): Can function as an adjective derived from the verb 'to bully'.

  • Bullying behavior will not be tolerated.

Synonyms

• Intimidation (n): The action of frightening or threatening someone.
• Harassment (n): Aggressive pressure or intimidation.
• Domineering (adj): Asserting one's will over another in an arrogant way.
• Tyrannical (adj): Exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way.

Related Phrases

• Workplace bullying: The repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons by one or more perpetrators at work.

  • The company introduced new policies to combat workplace bullying.

• School bullying: A type of bullying that occurs in an educational setting.

  • Parents attended a seminar on preventing school bullying.

Idioms and Common Expressions

• "Bully pulpit": A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter. (Note: This idiom uses "bully" in an older, positive sense meaning "excellent" or "first-rate," and is not directly related to the negative act of bullying).
  • The president used the bully pulpit to advocate for the new policy.

Adjective

1. noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others

Noun

1. the act of intimidating a weaker person to make them do something