harass

[huh-ras, har-uhs]

verb (used with object)

1. to disturb or bother persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; pester.

   He stays up late, harassed with doubt and anxiety.

   Synonyms: annoy, hector, plague, vex, badger

2. to intimidate or coerce, as with persistent demands or threats.

   Apparently a parent has been harassing the school principal with late-night phone calls.

3. to subject to unwelcome sexual advances.

   I was harassed by my boss many years ago.

4. to trouble by repeated attacks, incursions, etc., as in war or hostilities; harry; raid.

   Synonyms: beset, besiege

harass

/ ˈhærəs, həˈræs /

verb

1. (tr) to trouble, torment, or confuse by continual persistent attacks, questions, etc

Pronunciation Note

harass , a 17th-century borrowing from French, has traditionally been pronounced in English as , with stress on the first syllable. A newer pronunciation, , has developed in North American (but not British) English and has become the more common one in the U.S., especially among younger speakers.

Other Word Forms

• harassing adjective
• harassment noun
• harassed adjective
• harassable adjective
• harasser noun
• harassingly adverb
• overharass verb (used with object)
• unharassed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of harass¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from French, Middle French harasser “to harry, harass,” verbal derivative of harace, harache (in phrase courre a la harace “pursue”), equivalent to hare “cry used to urge dogs on” (from Frankish hara (unattested) “here, from this side”; compare Old High German hera, Middle Dutch hare ) + -asse augmentative or pejorative suffix, from Latin -ācea

Word History and Origins

Origin of harass¹

C17: from French harasser, variant of Old French harer to set a dog on, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German harēn to cry out

Synonym Study

See worry.

Example Sentences

A Southern California Lyft driver recently captured on video an alleged assault by seemingly intoxicated passengers who harassed and kicked him during a ride and questioned who “let him in the country.”

From Los Angeles Times

Long-time dog caregivers allege they are being harassed, assaulted and threatened, often by their own neighbours, who now believe feeding strays is illegal.

From BBC

Already, in red states, public school teachers and librarians are harassed by self-appointed vigilantes.

From Salon

Children are at increased risk of being harassed, cyber-bullied and having their identities stolen in later life by having their photos posted online by parents, according to new research.

From BBC

In a Facebook post, the Museum said these images were a "dangerous distortion" which "disrespects victims and harasses their memory".

From BBC

Related Words

• burn 
• hassle 
• heckle 
• hound 
• intimidate 
• persecute 
• pester 
• raid 
• tease 
• torment