harass

verb

hə-ˈras How to pronounce harass (audio)
Definition of harassnext
as in to kill
to use up all the physical energy of had been visibly harassed by the demands of the presidency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb harass contrast with its synonyms?

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.

harassed on all sides by creditors

Where would annoy be a reasonable alternative to harass?

While in some cases nearly identical to harass, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When could harry be used to replace harass?

The words harry and harass are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When might pester be a better fit than harass?

In some situations, the words pester and harass are roughly equivalent. However, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When is it sensible to use plague instead of harass?

The words plague and harass can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When can tease be used instead of harass?

While the synonyms tease and harass are close in meaning, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

When would worry be a good substitute for harass?

Although the words worry and harass have much in common, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harass According to the officer who’s worked with Farley for years, Farley has harassed and harmed his family. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025 The CREEP Act explicitly recognizes digital stalking and allows courts to order the removal of harmful online content and prohibit the use of smart home devices to harass victims. —Eric Gonzalez, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025 Trump cited court rules that prohibit lawyers from engaging in unethical conduct or filing arguments that harass or cause unnecessary delays in litigation. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025 Read Next Local These are the racial justice activists who sued Sacramento police over treatment at protests March 21, 2025 3:40 PM Among the allegations was that officers bruised them, shot them with impact munitions and verbally harassed them. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for harass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harass
  1. kill
  2. wear
  3. exhaust
  4. tire
Verb
  • Rick kills one of the security men, as Chelsea is shot in the chest.
    — Colleen Kratofil, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Then in the third period, once again killing a penalty with the Canadiens clinging to a 2-1 lead, and just after Sam Montembeault made a series of saves on Sean Couturier to maintain that lead, Suzuki added to it with the winning goal.
    — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of kill
Verb
  • Jackson has worn that same number throughout his football career and has won two MVPs with it.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • To be fair, goalies wore more modern-day uniforms in Gretzky's final seasons, and two years before Ovechkin entered the NHL, the length of goalie pads was limited to 38 inches.
    — Jim Sergent, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of wear
Verb
  • The game lasts about two minutes in total before the AI calls it a day, exhausted from generating the worst gaming experience possible.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • His aunt is exhausted, unsteady on her feet, her eyes red.
    — David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • Sophomore Madison Booker can match Hidalgo and Miles shot-for-shot, and Texas’ defensive pressure frequently tires opponents.
    — Ben Pickman, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The lack of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood from poor circulation can cause the muscles to tire sooner and can create feelings of exhaustion.
    — Jane Kim, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of tire

Browse Nearby Words

haranguing
harass
harassed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harass. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of harass for Spanish Speakers

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