harass
verb
transitive verb
William Wordsworth 
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
Example Sentences
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
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
1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
harass
verb
Legal Definition
harass
transitive verb
harass
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- kill
- wear
- exhaust
- drain
- tire
- waste
- weary
- weaken
- break
- fatigue
- knock out
- bust
- burn out
- wear out
- fag
- wash out
- frazzle
- debilitate
- do in
- wear to a frazzle
- outwear
- enervate
- do up
- enfeeble
- tucker (out)
- sap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- activate
- strengthen
- energize
- invigorate
- rejuvenate
- rest
- relax
- vitalize
- unwind
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of harass are annoy, harry, pester, plague, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.
While in some cases nearly identical to harass, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.
The words harry and harass are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.
In some situations, the words pester and harass are roughly equivalent. However, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.
The words plague and harass can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.
While the synonyms tease and harass are close in meaning, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.
Although the words worry and harass have much in common, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.