harassment

American  

[huh-ras-muhnt, har-uhs-muhnt] / həˈræs mənt, ˈhær əs mənt /

noun

1. an act or instance of harassing; torment, vexation, or intimidation.

   daily harassment by bullies at school;

   the harassments of daily life.

2. the condition or fact of being harassed.

   the stress of harassment and discrimination.

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Pronunciation

See harass.

Other Word Forms

• overharassment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of harassment

First recorded in 1750–55; harass + -ment

Explanation

If someone is abusing, insulting, or otherwise harming you on a regular basis, it's called harassment. Cruel and usually really annoying, harassment is also illegal in some cases. Harassment is a word that describes any kind of ongoing torment. At school, harassment is often known as bullying. In the workplace, employees need to be careful about sexual harassment. Harassment involves persistent attacks or abuse, and can range from shouting racial slurs to crank calling your ex-boyfriend every night at 3am. Even teasing your kid sister about her braces could be considered harassment.

Example Sentences

What is new is that the campus has agreed to refer to the definition on its Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination web page.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Harassment - or the threat of it - is an issue which Blaire says she has also had to face since her rise in popularity online.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025

In 1979, Catharine MacKinnon published her breakthrough book The Sexual Harassment of Working Women, which theorized how sexual harassment violated the law.

From Slate • Nov. 24, 2025

Harassment of journalists — especially foreign reporters — is common in China but almost never acknowledged by the state.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024

Harassment, longing, sore desire, check and bitterness—unhappiness there as here!

From The Long Roll by Johnston, Mary

Related Words

• molestation
• persecution
• provocation