stalking
stalking Lexical Profile
stalking Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The criminal act or pattern of unwanted, obsessive attention, surveillance, and harassment directed toward a specific individual, causing fear or distress.
"The legislature passed stricter laws against stalking and online harassment to better protect victims."
The act or sport of stealthily tracking and approaching wild game or prey without being detected.
"The wildlife documentary captured the snow leopard's patient stalking across the rocky ridge."
• verb
To harass or persecute someone with unwanted, obsessive attention and surveillance.
"He was arrested after months of stalking his former colleague online and in person."
To pursue or approach stealthily and quietly (as a predator or hunter tracking prey).
"The cat spent twenty minutes silently stalking a sparrow in the tall grass."
To stride somewhere in a proud, stiff, or angry manner.
"After losing the argument, she left the room, stalking down the hallway without looking back."
• Rhymes for stalking
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Old English 'bestaelcan' (to walk stealthily or cautiously), sharing a Germanic root with 'steal'. The modern criminal sense of obsessive harassment emerged in the late 20th century, initially describing fixated pursuit of celebrities.