A hostile work environment is created by a boss or coworker whose actions, communication or behavior make doing your job impossible. 1  This means that the behavior altered the terms, conditions, and/or reasonable expectations of a comfortable work environment for employees.
11. to exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern: to rule a kingdom. 12. to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively; decree. 13. to mark with lines, esp. parallel straight lines, with the aid of a ruler or the like: to rule paper. 14. to mark out or form (a line) by this method.
to deliberately do the opposite of what someone in authority has told you to do, or deliberately not obey a rule. If you continue to disobey the rules, you will be punished. They knew he was too weak to disobey. Synonyms and related words. To fail to obey a rule, law or command: cross a line, break, defy...