harass
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to disturb or bother persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; pester.
He stays up late, harassed with doubt and anxiety.
-
to intimidate or coerce, as with persistent demands or threats.
Apparently a parent has been harassing the school principal with late-night phone calls.
-
to subject to unwelcome sexual advances.
I was harassed by my boss many years ago.
-
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
-
harassernoun
-
harassmentnoun
-
overharassverb (used with object)
-
harassableadjective
-
harassedadjective
-
harassingadjective
-
unharassedadjective
-
harassinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
harasssimple
-
harassessimple
-
have harassedperfect
-
has harassedperfect
-
am harassingprogressive
-
are harassingprogressive
-
is harassingprogressive
-
have been harassingperfect progressive
-
has been harassingperfect progressive
Past
-
harassedsimple
-
had harassedperfect
-
was harassingprogressive
-
were harassingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Excerpt from "The Declaration of Independence"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The law defines "take" to mean "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct."
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
District Court Judge Patrick Schiltz quashed the “unlawful” subpoenas, ruling that “overwhelming evidence” suggested they “were not issued to investigate, but to harass, coerce, and retaliate.”
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2026
In recent weeks, Hezbollah has increasingly relied on fiber-optic drones — which are both low-cost and impervious to jamming — to harass Israeli positions.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 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
If they want to bad enough, they gon harass a blessing from you if it kill.
From "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker
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
The backbencher's bill will introduce harsher sentences for someone who deliberately harasses, alarms, or distresses someone in a public place, and increasing the maximum sentences from six months to two years.
From BBC ● Dec. 9, 2022
Dear Miss Manners: My husband says he is very concerned with good table manners, and he constantly harasses my 8-year-old grandsons on the subject.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 21, 2021
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
To all this, something is added of the nature and conquest of those deep spiritual temptations, with which Satan harasses those that adhere to the Lord, and who endeavor to be faithful to the end.
From True Christianity by Arndt, Johann
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
A Chilean rescue group that made it into Venezuela, the paper said, has been “repeatedly” harassed by authorities for “documentation on suspicion that they were spies.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 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
That came after the Riverside City Council sent Freeman a letter alleging she harassed municipal employees, which she denies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
“If they were still being harassed, why didn't they complain?”
From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine
But against Spain, he took part in his side’s relentless harassing of a technically superior team as it racked up a World Cup final record of 26 fouls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 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
Joint Chiefs Chair General Dan Caine called the strikes “more low harassing fire right now” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Iran hasn’t violated the cease-fire deal.
From Barron's ● May 5, 2026
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 "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
