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

As delicate tendrils emerge from its nose cavity, the stalker makes just enough noise to cause Ellie to whip around. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Spicer broke out with 2017’s Ingrid Goes West, a dark comedy following the stalker of a social media influencer, starring Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025

The stalker passed away in July 2024 at the age of 41 after being diagnosed with cancer. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025

The gap in the law is especially dangerous in the digital age, where harassers and stalkers exploit technology to terrorize their victims. —Eric Gonzalez, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 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