bullying
Schoolyard power abuse
Bullying is the repeated use of power—physical, social, or psychological—to intimidate, harm, or dominate someone weaker or more vulnerable.
It includes threats, insults, exclusion, and physical aggression.
School bullying has received particular attention, but workplace bullying and cyberbullying are recognized as serious problems: The company finally addressed the bullying in her department.
As an adjective, bullying describes intimidating behavior: his bullying tone.
Provoking reactions online
- doxxingPublishing personal information maliciously
- cyberstalkingElectronic pursuit and intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- hateIntense hostile aversion
messaging · screenshots · blocking · unfriending · pile-on · cancel · viral · anonymous
Lasting psychological wound
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- mistreatmentCruel or harmful behavior
harm · degradation · humiliation · suffering · psychological · emotional · scarring · damage
Children's outdoor recreation space
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- name-callingHurling insults at others
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
wedgies · lunch money · locker · hallway · recess · cafeteria · bus · hazing
Being barred from participation
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- shunningDeliberately avoiding someone
- isolationComplete separation from others
- cliquesExclusive social groups
gossip · rumors · whispering · rejection · outcast · loner · silent treatment · cold shoulder
Declarations of intended harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- pressuringExerting influence to compel
terrorizing · browbeating · looming · cornering · stalking · following · staring · glaring
Antagonistic disposition toward others
- violenceHarmful physical force
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- attackAggressive act against another
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
confrontation · aggressor · combativeness · viciousness · meanness · pushiness · roughhousing · shoving
Prolonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- suicideVoluntary death by oneself
self-harm · low self-esteem · fear · withdrawal · absenteeism · dropping out · nightmares · insomnia
One harmed by another
- targetObject of pursuit
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- picking onHarassing someone repeatedly
- singling outSelecting one from many
weakness · vulnerability · difference · disability · appearance · weight · glasses · braces
trolling
Provoking reactions online
- doxxingPublishing personal information maliciously
- cyberstalkingElectronic pursuit and intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
hate · messaging · screenshots · blocking · unfriending · pile-on · cancel · viral · anonymous · posting
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
mistreatment · harm · degradation · humiliation · suffering · psychological · emotional · scarring · damage · injury
playground
Children's outdoor recreation space
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- name-callingHurling insults at others
mockery · wedgies · lunch money · locker · hallway · recess · cafeteria · bus · hazing · freshman
exclusion
Being barred from participation
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- shunningDeliberately avoiding someone
- isolationComplete separation from others
cliques · gossip · rumors · whispering · rejection · outcast · loner · silent treatment · cold shoulder · backstabbing
threats
Declarations of intended harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
pressuring · terrorizing · browbeating · looming · cornering · stalking · following · staring · glaring · posturing
hostility
Antagonistic disposition toward others
- violenceHarmful physical force
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- attackAggressive act against another
antagonism · confrontation · aggressor · combativeness · viciousness · meanness · pushiness · roughhousing · shoving · hitting
depression
Prolonged low state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
suicide · self-harm · low self-esteem · fear · withdrawal · absenteeism · dropping out · nightmares · insomnia · eating disorders
victim
One harmed by another
- targetObject of pursuit
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- picking onHarassing someone repeatedly
singling out · weakness · vulnerability · difference · disability · appearance · weight · glasses · braces · accent
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- aggressionhostility, violence, attack, fight, combativeness
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- K-12 Schoolselementary school, middle school, high school, student, classroom
- social developmentsocialization, social skills, friendship, social behavior, belonging
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
bullyingkindness
Considerate, caring disposition
nurturing · supporting · caring · encouraging · befriending
bullyingprotecting
Keeping from harm
defending · advocating · championing · mentoring · empowering
bullyinginclusion
Being made part
acceptance · affirmation · validation · building up · confidence-building
- workplace bullyingOngoing employee mistreatment at work
- bullying victimTarget of repeated aggression
- bullying preventionStopping repeated intimidation
- anti-bullying programsOrganized efforts against intimidation
- School bullyingStudent-on-student intimidation
- anti-bullying policiesRules prohibiting student intimidation