cyberstalking

American  

[sahy-ber-staw-king] / ˈsaɪ bərˌstɔ kɪŋ /

Or cyber stalking

noun

1. the practice of using digital forms of communication to harass a person in an aggressive, often threatening manner.

   He was arrested for cyberstalking through social media and email.

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cyberstalking British  

/ ˈsaɪbəˌstɔːkɪŋ /

noun

1. the practice of using electronic communications to harass someone persistently

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cyberstalker
  noun
• cyberstalk
  verb (used with or without object)

Etymology

Origin of cyberstalking

First recorded in 1990–95; cyber- ( def. ) + stalk ² ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Charlotte Hooper, who works for The Cyber Helpline, which supports victims of online abuse, knows first-hand how psychologically damaging cyberstalking can be.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2025

One 2005 study showed that barely 30 percent of students who read accounts from a case where a perpetrator was actually convicted of cyberstalking identified the behavior as such.

From Scientific American • Jul. 26, 2023

She finally went to a lawyer knowledgeable about cyberstalking.

From Washington Post • Apr. 1, 2023

A bill that would treat cyberstalking the same as in-person stalking passed the Washington House on Feb. 27 and had a public hearing Tuesday in the Senate Committee on Law and Justice.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2023

Harvey, Sarah Hoyle, and John Starr designed policies banning cyberstalking, threats, hate speech, and nonconsensual pornography.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2022