harass
verb
ha·rass hə-ˈras 
ˈher-əs,
ˈha-rəs harassed; harassing; harasses
transitive verb
1
a
: exhaust, fatigue
I have been harassed with the toil of verse
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth b(1)
: to annoy persistently
was harassing his younger brother
(2)
: to create an unpleasant or hostile situation for especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct
was being harassed by her classmates
claims that the police were unfairly harassing him
2
: to worry and impede by repeated raids
harassed the enemy
harasser noun
harassment
hə-ˈras-mənt
noun ˈher-əs-
ˈha-rəs- 
Synonyms
- break
- burn out
- bust
- do in
- do up
- drain
- exhaust
- fag
- fatigue
- frazzle
- kill
- knock out
- outwear
- tire
- tucker (out)
- wash out
- wear
- wear out
- weary
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She was constantly harassed by the other students. He claims that he is being unfairly harassed by the police.
Recent Examples on the Web Those vessels could harass shipping or lay new mines. Jared Malsin, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 The Sky continued to harass the young guard into mistakes, forcing her into five turnovers. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2022 Mejia was scared more people would come in to harass them — or worse. Ben Goggin, NBC News, 19 Aug. 2022 Even though monkeypox is being used to harass people right now, bad actors who truly wish to deepen victims’ shame will always find a way to do so. Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 The company balked when the committee issued a formal subpoena, demanding proprietary information on its revenue from AR-15-style guns, despite no clear purpose other than to harass the company and feed an anti-gun narrative. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 People who harass or assault often do so repeatedly, sometimes with dozens of victims. Charlie Lieu, Outside Online, 31 Jan. 2019 In the video, a group of locals harass a pair of juvenile leopards that seem to be severely drugged. Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 27 July 2022 In both instances, came into my photography class with Mr. and began to harass me about . Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2022 See More
Jared Malsin, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 The Sky continued to harass the young guard into mistakes, forcing her into five turnovers. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2022 Mejia was scared more people would come in to harass them — or worse. Ben Goggin, NBC News, 19 Aug. 2022 Even though monkeypox is being used to harass people right now, bad actors who truly wish to deepen victims’ shame will always find a way to do so. Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 The company balked when the committee issued a formal subpoena, demanding proprietary information on its revenue from AR-15-style guns, despite no clear purpose other than to harass the company and feed an anti-gun narrative. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 People who harass or assault often do so repeatedly, sometimes with dozens of victims. Charlie Lieu, Outside Online, 31 Jan. 2019 In the video, a group of locals harass a pair of juvenile leopards that seem to be severely drugged. Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 27 July 2022 In both instances, came into my photography class with Mr. and began to harass me about . Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French harasser, from Middle French, from harer to set a dog on, from Old French hare, interjection used to incite dogs, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hier here — more at here
First Known Use
1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
harass
verb
ha·rass hə-ˈras
ˈher-əs
harassed; harassing
1
: to annoy again and again
2
: to make repeated attacks against an enemy
Legal Definition
harass
transitive verb
ha·rass hə-ˈras, ˈhar-əs
: to subject persistently and wrongfully to annoying, offensive, or troubling behavior
a collection agency harassing a debtor
see also sexual harassment harassing 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in frightening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- frightening
- intimidating
- discouraging
- forbidding
- chilling
- frightening
- scary
- persecutory
- terrifying
- alarming
- persecutive
- demoralizing
- fearful
- horrible
- terrible
- scary
- upsetting
- horrifying
- troublesome
- formidable
- shocking
- fearsome
- disconcerting
- dread
- disturbing
- troubling
- dreadful
- horrendous
- nagging
- ghastly
- disheartening
- perturbing
- frightful
- daunting
- unsettling
- dismaying
- dire
- distressing
- discomfiting
- worrisome
- disquieting
- dispiriting
- hair-raising
- discomforting
- discomposing
- direful
- troublous
- nasty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reassuring
- settling
- calming
- soothing
- inviting
- relaxing
- comforting
- quieting
- consoling
- narcotic
- tranquilizing
- dreamy
- sedative
- pacifying
- lulling
- tranquillizing
2
as in annoying
Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoying
- invading
- pestiferous
- trespassing
- inquisitive
- overbearing
- interfering
- curious
- intruding
- insolent
- intrusive
- impudent
- pushing
- meddling
- superserviceable
- busy
- brazen
- bumptious
- meddlesome
- pushy
- prying
- officious
- rude
- nosy
- obtrusive
- impertinent
- snoopy
- presuming
- presumptuous
- nosey
- bold
- protrusive
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unobtrusive
- withdrawn
- uninvolved
- silent
- reclusive
- inhibited
- quiet
- restrained
- retiring
- subdued
- reticent
- reserved
- taciturn
- hands-off
harassing
2 of 2verb
as in killing
to use up all the physical energy of had been visibly harassed by the demands of the presidency Synonyms & Similar Words
- killing
- wearing
- exhausting
- tiring
- draining
- wasting
- busting
- breaking
- wearying
- fatiguing
- fagging
- weakening
- burning out
- knocking out
- wearing out
- washing out
- sapping
- debilitating
- frazzling
- outwearing
- doing in
- doing up
- wearing to a frazzle
- enervating
- tuckering (out)
- enfeebling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- activating
- strengthening
- energizing
- invigorating
- resting
- relaxing
- rejuvenating
- vitalizing
- unwinding