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:
Billionaires like New York Knicks owner James L. Dolan reportedly use spying tech to harass people who criticize them.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Taipei also accuses Beijing of using a range of "greyzone" methods -- tactics that fall short of an act of war -- including cyberattacks to harass the island.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 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
The two brothers appeared in court on Wednesday to face charges of using a carriage service to harass or offend.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
I gave him a shove, trying to wake him up so Tiny Trucker would have someone else to harass, but Fang actually seemed to be sleeping.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
“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
The Saudi Embassy in Washington, responding to an inquiry by the AP, said, “The notion that the Saudi government — or any of its institutions — harasses its own citizens abroad is preposterous.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 1, 2022
"I cannot continue supporting the existence of a coalition that harasses my community in this disgraceful manner," Ms Zoabi wrote.
From BBC ● May 19, 2022
Youngsoon, who lives with a roommate in a rural area, tells Gamhee about a neighbor’s rooster, who harasses the hens, jumping on their backs and pecking at their necks.
From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2021
But there are two ways of doing these things: one, which gives the men no more trouble than is absolutely unavoidable; the other, which harasses and justly provokes them.
From The Lieutenant and Commander Being Autobigraphical Sketches of His Own Career, from Fragments of Voyages and Travels by Basil Hall
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
In the indictment, the government alleges that protesters blocked ICE facilities and surveilled and harassed government employees while communicating in a Signal group chat, which they say was used to identify government vehicles.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
Khimberly’s family has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging that their daughter had been repeatedly harassed on campus and staff failed to take reports of bullying seriously.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
In a letter, he said he had resigned as Durham Reform's group whip weeks ago and this had led to him being bullied and harassed.
From BBC ● May 16, 2026
Antis harassed the legislators in an attempt to get them to change their votes.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
The 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act Muehl admitted to violating prohibits hunting, harassing, capturing, or killing any marine mammal in U.S. waters, or attempting to do so.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
When she’s youthful, Sophie catches the eye of a handsome, richly dressed stranger who gallantly escorts her away from two men harassing her on the street.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
In the early evening, protesters trickle in, shouting slogans and harassing drivers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
This came amid reports of demonstrators stopping and harassing some motorists.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
Gum Baby broke off from harassing a cluster of butterflies and ran over as well.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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.
