Bullying

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈbʊ.li.ɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The action of deliberately inflicting pain or discomfort on others through intimidation, often characterized by a repeated aggressive nature
2. A systematic approach to exert dominance over peers by using threats or harassment, leading to emotional and mental consequences
3. The act of persistently and intentionally causing harm or distress to individuals through aggressive behavior, often involving coercion or psychological pressure

Etymology: "Bullying" is formed from "bully" plus the suffix "-ing", so its history is really the history of the parent word. The "-ing" ending is the old suffix that, in Old English, turned verbs into nouns for actions and states, and it survives in plenty of everyday words. The mechanics here are plain: the noun "bully" existed first, and "bullying" came from attaching this ending to it. The suffix itself has a long pedigree, having descended through Proto-Germanic and Old English forms before arriving in Middle English as "-ynge" and eventually settling into the modern "-ing" spelling. Its survival through so many centuries explains why English speakers can coin new action nouns almost automatically, which is exactly what happened here.

Synonyms: harassment, intimidation, coercion, persecution, mobbing

Antonyms: support, protection, kindness, defense, encouragement