ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bullying

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈbʊɫiɪŋ// UK //bˈʊlɪɪŋ// bul·ly·ing

n. the act of hurting or frightening someone who is smaller or weaker than you. This usually happens many times and can be physical or through mean words.

n. the repetitive use of force, coercion, or threat to abuse, dominate, or intimidate others. Often involves a perceived imbalance of power and can manifest as physical, verbal, or social aggression.


SIMPLE

The school has a strict policy against bullying.

CONTEXTUAL

Teachers are trained to recognize the signs of cyber bullying and intervene before the situation escalates.

COMPLEX

Workplace bullying often takes the form of subtle psychological manipulation rather than overt physical threats, making it difficult for human resources departments to document and address effectively.

Synonyms
Origin

From bully + -ing.

Usage

Typically functions as an uncountable noun; when used in the plural, it refers to specific types or instances of the behavior.

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