2 syllables: Bul, lied. Stress on Bul.
BUUL-eed
/ˈbʊlid/
Bullied is pronounced BUUL-eed (/ˈbʊlid/). It has two syllables (Bul-lied), with the stress on "Bul". Bullied refers to being subjected to repeated aggressive acts by others or feeling intimidated and harassed. It describes a state or condition in which someone has been targeted through social pressure, threats, or harm, often creating fear or anxiety. The term can describe past experiences or ongoing situations, and is commonly used in discussions of interpersonal conflict or school/workplace dynamics.
adjectiveBullied refers to being subjected to repeated aggressive acts by others or feeling intimidated and harassed. It describes a state or condition in which someone has been targeted through social pressure, threats, or harm, often creating fear or anxiety. The term can describe past experiences or ongoing situations, and is commonly used in discussions of interpersonal conflict or school/workplace dynamics.
"The student felt bullied after classmates mocked her projects."
"He was bullied for wearing unfashionable clothes, which affected his confidence."
"The team spoke out after witnessing sustained bullying in the locker room."
Bullied is pronounced with two syllables: BIL (as in 'bill') + ɪd or mild - once. Phonetic: /ˈbɪl.ɪd/ in US, /ˈbʊl.ɪd/ in UK, and /ˈbɪl.ɪd/ in Australian diction. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Mouth positioning: start with a bilabial, closed lip ‘b’ sound, move to a short lax ‘i’ vowel, then a light ‘l’ gesture, and finish with a short ‘d’. Ensure the final -ed is a quick, soft d rather than a full stop consonant. If you’re listening, focus on the intonation that remains steady after the stressed syllable.
Two common errors: 1) Turning the second syllable into a separate, emphatic vowel (e.g., /ˈbʊl.iː/). 2) Slurring the final /d/ into a soft /t/ or dropping it, which makes it sound like 'bulliet'. Correction: keep the second syllable as a short, unstressed 'ɪd' or 'əd' with a clear final d, and avoid prolonging the vowel in the second syllable. Practice the sequence BIL-ED with a crisp stop on the final /d/.
In US English, stress on the first syllable with a shorter, lax second vowel: /ˈbɪl.ɪd/. In UK English, the vowel in the first syllable is often a short, clipped /ʊ/ leading to /ˈbʊl.ɪd/. Australian English tends to be close to US but with a slightly broader diphthong on the first vowel; you might hear /ˈbɪl.ɪd/ with a flat, less rounded /ɪ/. The final /d/ is a clearly released stop in all three, but some British speakers may soften it slightly in rapid speech.
The challenge lies in the rapid, clean sequence of a stressed first syllable with a short, unstressed second syllable ending in a voiced alveolar stop /d/. The blend BIL + ED can produce a light schwa-like vowel in the second syllable for non-native ears, and the final /d/ can be devoiced or elided in rapid speech. Achieve clarity by keeping the second syllable short and ensuring the final /d/ is released distinctly. IPA cues help anchor correct timing and mouth posture.
There are no silent letters in bullied. Every letter contributes to the pronunciation: B, U (or I depending on accent), L, L, I, E, D. The final 'ed' is pronounced as a light /d/ in many varieties, and the 'i' in the second syllable is typically a short vowel, not silent. Focus on ensuring the /ɪ/ sound remains audible in the second syllable and that the final /d/ is released.
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Bullied derives from the noun bully, which historically meant a charming or sweet person in older uses but more commonly referred to a fiercely aggressive person by the 17th century. The verb form bully, in the sense of 'to badger or domineer', emerged in Middle English, gaining strong pejorative connotations by the 16th–17th centuries as social intimidation became a recognized act. The past participle bullied reflects the standard English pattern where -ed marks completed action or state. In modern usage, bully shifts between describing an aggressor (the bully) and the experience of being subjected to aggression (bullied). The word has broad application across school, workplace, and online environments, highlighting cyclical or chronic behavior rather than a single incident. First known uses appear in early modern English medical and legal texts referencing coercion and intimidation, with its common modern sense solidified by 19th to 20th century literature and psychology discourse on peer harassment. Today, 'bullied' typically indicates a victim experience in a social hierarchy, often correlating with power imbalance and repeated episodes rather than an isolated event.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Bullied" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Bullied"
-led sounds
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