stalker

noun

stalk·​er ˈstȯ-kər 

plural stalkers

1

: a person who stalks : a person who pursues someone obsessively and aggressively to the point of harassment

celebrity stalkers

In 1990, California was the first state to pass a stalking law that made it a crime to follow, threaten, or harass someone—especially if the stalker threatened violence.

—George

Eighty-seven percent of stalkers are men. Women tend to be victimized by lone male stalkers whom they know, while men are more likely to be stalked by strangers, and half of male victims' stalkers had an accomplice.

—Matthew Klein

2

: a person or animal that pursues quarry or prey stealthily

a deer stalker

Though I catch my share of trout, I do it by being a good stalker and knowing where the fish lie …

—Bill Barich

Polar bears are superb stalkers, and have a way of suddenly appearing heart-stoppingly close.

—John P. Wiley, Jr.

Examples of stalker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Listen to the full interview below, with the conversation about stalkers beginning about 6:50. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Trapped in her home with the stalker, Paul Duerson (Ray Nicholson), and his assistant, Penny (Alba Baptista), Sofia fields a peculiar demand. —Barry Levitt, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2025

Raducanu has dealt with stalkers before, receiving a restraining order against a fan in 2022 who came to her home three times, according to the AP. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025

Kathie Lee Gifford is speaking out about how President Donald Trump saved her and her newborn daughter from a dangerous stalker. —Ashley Hume, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for stalker

• blocker
• chalker
• cocker
• docker
• hawker
• hocker
• knocker
• locker
• mocker
• ocher
• rocker
• shocker