harass
Americanverb (used with object)
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harasses,
present (3rd person singular)
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harassed,
past participle, past
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harassing
present participle
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to disturb or bother persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; pester.
He stays up late, harassed with doubt and anxiety.
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to intimidate or coerce, as with persistent demands or threats.
Apparently a parent has been harassing the school principal with late-night phone calls.
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to subject to unwelcome sexual advances.
I was harassed by my boss many years ago.
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to trouble by repeated attacks, incursions, etc., as in war or hostilities; harry; raid.
verb
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.
Synonym Usage
See worry.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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harassernoun
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harassmentnoun
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overharassverb (used with object)
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harassableadjective
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harassedadjective
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harassingadjective
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unharassedadjective
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harassinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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harasssimple
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harassessimple
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have harassedperfect
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has harassedperfect
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am harassingprogressive
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are harassingprogressive
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is harassingprogressive
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have been harassingperfect progressive
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has been harassingperfect progressive
Past
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harassedsimple
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had harassedperfect
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was harassingprogressive
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were harassingprogressive
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had been harassingperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
When you harass someone, you bother them to the point of exhaustion. It’s not that each attack is so severe, it’s the constant small attacks that wear someone out. If you harass your boss for a raise, you might end up getting fired instead! Harass probably comes from the Old French word harer meaning "to set a dog on." Think of someone being hounded when you use this word. You can harass your parents with questions or requests, but in turn, they can also harass you to clean your room! While this is annoying, it's much worse if you are harassed in the sense of being verbally abused. The bully at school who harasses some poor kid will be subject to disciplinary action if a complaint is filed.
Vocabulary lists containing harass
Beowulf vocabulary
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Excerpt from "The Declaration of Independence"
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
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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.
See Examples For:
Filmon Eyob, a co-ordinator within Nairobi's Eritrean community, agrees with concerns that the crackdown order will be used as pretext to harass foreigners.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
"Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting," Huckabee wrote on X on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Billionaires like New York Knicks owner James L. Dolan reportedly use spying tech to harass people who criticize them.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting,” Huckabee said in a post on X.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
She explains that certain creatures are allowed to scare and harass unsuspecting people if they wander someplace generally acknowledged to be spooky—like graveyards, old abandoned mansions, dark caves, and under beds.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
“While your right to express your political opinions is protected speech, speech that harasses City employees and disrupts their ability to perform their duties is not protected,” the letter read.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
But an 18-month investigation by the BBC finds it takes over people's lives, separates people from their loved ones and harasses its critics.
From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2023
The 36-year-old Walters said Wednesday that he envisions putting together a program that scores in bunches, stops the run and routinely harasses opposing quarterbacks.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 14, 2022
Mr. West harasses Mr. Davidson on social media.
From New York Times ● Feb. 15, 2022
It is not poverty so much as —— that harasses a ruined man—the struggle between a proud mind and an empty purse.
From English Synonyms and Antonyms With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions by James Champlin Fernald
He had what appeared to be a paid photoshoot whilst claiming that he was being harassed by the media, withdrawing from the wedding just days beforehand as he underwent heart surgery.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
"We have not been harmed or harassed, but there is a general feeling of anxiety. That's natural during wartime," he told AFP at Kuwait City's gold market.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
In 2025, the company sought and was denied a temporary restraining order against one resident it claimed harassed lot workers and blocked Waymos from entering the site.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
The Liuzzo family was harassed for their mother’s activism even after her death, but the event galvanized activists all over the country, becoming one impetus for Congress to finally pass the landmark 1965 legislation.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
She was adept in creating any number of hair styles, but each one left her with a pinched and harassed look.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
Buchanan, 72, had been incarcerated since 2004 for kidnapping a convict who was harassing a corrupt prison guard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
His Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke backed up that statement with figures showing that reports of threatening or harassing behaviour towards politicians had risen from 951 to 1,067 in the past year.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
The shakeup followed an investigation into allegedly threatening and harassing calls received by Katie Miller, a conservative podcaster married to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Shapiro said the order follows reports from Pennsylvanians that a flood of developers have been harassing and strong-arming residents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
The last visit was fresh in his mind: Mama harassing Olanna, calling her a witch, hooting, and, worst of all, threatening to consult the dibia in the village.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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