crybully

noun

cry·​bul·​ly ˈkrī-ˌbu̇-lē How to pronounce crybully (audio)
variants or cry-bully
plural crybullies or cry-bullies
: a person who falsely claims to be a victim or who feigns emotional pain in order to manipulate, coerce, or threaten others
If you don't fight back, the crybully bullies you. If you fight back, the crybully cries … because you made him feel unsafe.—Daniel Greenfield
—often used before another noun
… repeated failure of political nerve to adopt, or even back, an assertive stance against the crybully tactics.—Martin Sherman

Word History

Etymology

cry(baby) + bully entry 1

Note: Introduction of the word has been attributed to the British writer Julie Burchill ("Meet the Cry-Bully: a hideous hybrid of victim and victor," The Spectator, April 21, 2015, online), though earlier use, perhaps nonce coinages, can be found.

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crybully was in 1999

Dictionary Entries Near crybully

cry back

crybully

cry down

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Crybully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crybully. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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