A bully is a person who repeatedly hurts, frightens, or threatens someone weaker or less powerful. As a verb, it means to treat someone in this cruel way.
From Dutch “boel,” meaning “lover” or “brother,” later passing into English as a friendly term “bully” meaning “fine fellow.” Over time, the meaning twisted from affectionate to aggressive, possibly through the idea of a swaggering tough.
“Bully” started out as something like “sweetheart” or “good friend” before it turned nasty. It’s a reminder that social power can flip: the charming leader of one century can become the feared tormentor of the next, even in language.
Bullying behavior has often been framed through gender stereotypes, with male bullying associated with physical aggression and female bullying stereotyped as gossip or “mean girl” behavior. These narratives can obscure the seriousness of bullying among girls and nonbinary youth and overlook victims of all genders.
Use “bully” in a gender-neutral way, and avoid assuming the bully’s or victim’s gender. When discussing patterns, rely on data rather than stereotypes about how different genders bully or are bullied.
["harasser","abuser","intimidator"]
Research on bullying, including work led by women psychologists and educators, has highlighted the impact of relational and psychological bullying, expanding understanding beyond male-coded physical aggression.
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