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

The second follows a feminist writer on a lecture circuit that has been disrupted by a violent stalker; who better to hire for protection than Holly? —John Cassidy, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

The series will also explore the dark side of the 1990s series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers; The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Taylor Armstrong alleging abuse by her late husband; an expose of the Von Erichs’ wrestling dynasty; and a episode about fan stalkers. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025

Gabriela’s stalker exit arc & likely return DEADLINE: After being put through the ringer the last three seasons, Gabriela got to end her arc with a creepy stalker storyline. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2025

Pair that with viewers lusting after a sociopathic stalker, fantasizing about Joe's killer looks. —Anika Reed, USA Today, 23 Apr. 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