Harass Definition & Meaning

American

British

Pronunciation

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms harass American [huh-ras, har-uhs] / həˈræs, ˈhær əs /

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 British / ˈhærəs, həˈræs /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Pronunciation

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.

Related Words

See worry.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of harass

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping,” said Adm.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even through the smudged window, I could see the look of pure revulsion Regan had on her face as I followed her down the hall, harassing her for all I was worth.

From Literature

According to the suit, Doe claims that despite “his pattern of harassing behavior and complaints,” the company, did not address his alleged misconduct.

From Los Angeles Times

The defendants did not know who Huitzilin was, or have any intention of identifying his home address or harassing him.

From Los Angeles Times

In the complaint, Seitz alleged that Austin, Hernandez and a third man began to bother and harass him outside after the bar closed, “including by repeatedly reaching for the sunglasses resting on” his head.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.