いじめる・苛める・虐めるijimeru[0]heiban (flat)

1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to pick on; to tease; to be cruel to; to persecute
   私は彼かれをいじめたことを後悔こうかいした。↗

   I felt bad about picking on him.
2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto be tough on (e.g. one's body); to treat harshly

• Synonym虐げるしいたげるWrittenWritten/formal prose for oppressing or persecuting, as in 「虐げられた人々」.
• Synonym苦しめるくるしめるNeutralNeutral word for causing suffering, as in 「病に苦しめられる」; covers a broad range of physical and emotional pain.
• Synonym苛むさいなむWrittenWritten/formal prose for tormenting; often in the passive, as in 「罪悪感に苛まれる」, and centres on inner anguish rather than outward bullying.
• Synonym責め苛むせめさいなむWrittenWritten/formal prose for tormenting someone in every way; stronger than 「苛む」.
• SynonymいびるCasualColloquial for picking on or making things hard for someone, as in 「嫁をいびる」; typically a boss or in-laws doing the harassing.
• SynonymなぶるWrittenWritten/formal prose for toying with or teasing someone, as in 「弱者を嬲る」.
• Related責めるせめるNeutralNeutral word for blaming or reproaching, as in 「自分を責める」; centres on holding someone at fault rather than tormenting them.
• Related冷やかすひやかすCasualColloquial for jeering or bantering at someone; also means looking at goods without any intention of buying.
• RelatedからかうCasualColloquial for teasing or bantering; lighter than 「苛める」 and done in fun.
• Related悩ますなやますNeutralNeutral word for distressing or worrying someone, as in 「頭を悩ます」.
• Related揶揄やゆWrittenWritten/formal prose for ridiculing or satirizing, as in 「政治を揶揄する」.
• Related嘲るあざけるWrittenWritten/formal prose for mocking or scoffing at someone, as in 「人の失敗を嘲る」.
• Related小突き回すこづきまわすCasualColloquial for bullying by pushing and shoving someone around; the emphasis is on rough physical treatment.
• RelatedいたぶるWrittenWritten/formal prose for tormenting or extorting money from someone, as in 「獲物をいたぶる」.
• Related小突くこづくCasualColloquial for giving a light poke or push, as in 「頭を小突く」.
• Related責め立てるせめたてるNeutralNeutral word for blaming someone relentlessly, pressing them step by step, as in 「責め立てる」.
• RelatedおちょくるCasualColloquial, with a Kansai flavour, for teasing or making fun of someone.
• Antonym守るまもるNeutralThe opposite of 「苛める」: to protect, as in 「弱い者を守る」.
• Antonym助けるたすけるNeutralThe opposite of 「苛める」: to help or rescue someone, as in 「困った人を助ける」.
• Antonym可愛がるかわいがるNeutralThe opposite of 「苛める」: to dote on or treat tenderly, as in 「孫を可愛がる」.

For bullying or ill-treating someone, 「苛める」 is the default choice. Use 「いびる」 for picking on someone, 「からかう」 for playful teasing, 「苛む」 for inner torment, 「虐げる」 for oppression, and 「嘲る」 for mockery. The antonyms 「守る」 (protect) and 「可愛がる」 (dote on) describe the opposite treatment.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 対象たいしょうからの抵抗ていこうや拒否きょひをうわまわって苦くるしめる。挫くじく。弱よわい立場たちばの対象たいしょうについて、心身しんしん的てきに傷害しょうがいする。
2. 体からだに強つよい負荷ふかをかけて鍛きたえる。
3. 強つよい性的せいてき刺激しげきを与あたえる。責せめる。