harrow

verb

Definition of harrownext
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to the villagers were gaunt and sickly, harrowed by years of disease and starvation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 harrow The research fellow who met me, Birte, was in her forties, and appeared as if she had been harrowed by her work. — John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024 Plus, Shin Ha-young is given little to do in the second half of the series despite her effortless shift from warm third wheel to harrowed and weary abuse victim. — Geoffrey Bunting, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2023 Track maintenance will then harrow the track to release the compactness and return it to its regular consistency for racing. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2021 That same humble deity, in the course of putting on humanity, had obtained a glimpse of the conditions on earth—poverty, needless estrangement, a stubborn pattern of rich ruling over poor—and decided to incite a revolution that would harrow Hell. — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrow
  1. plague
  2. afflict
  3. persecute
  4. torture
  5. torment
Verb
  • The community support comes at an apartment complex that both residents say is plagued with drugs and violence.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The firm works heavily with the community surrounding the market and carries a mission to identify and establish alternatives to the pitfalls plaguing fashion’s current business model including overproduction and greenwashing.
    — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of plague
Verb
  • In the first trailer for Universal’s live-action reimagining of Dreamworks’ 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon, there’s no hint that the CGI is going in the gritty, overly lifelike direction that has afflicted other live-action remakes of years past.
    — Michael Savio, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
  • In a state and city so afflicted by the culture of corruption, as the Tribune reported exhaustively last year in a series of pieces tracing our sordid history, federal prosecutors have played an indispensable role in unearthing these stories and making our politicians pay for abusing their offices.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • Sold to the public as increasing transparency, the legislation has been utilized to persecute Georgia’s opposition and arrest dissidents with impunity.
    — Anastasiya Zavyalova, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Again, none of these Beautiful People ever thought of assisting Americans who were being persecuted by the Deep State these last few years before Jan. 20.
    — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • The six defendants allegedly began holding a man against his will on March 14 and proceeded to torture him at a Red Roof Inn in Maumee, Ohio, according to an arrest warrant.
    — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Eddie quickly discovers that he was lured into the vehicle by William (Anthony Hopkins), the car's wealthy sociopathic owner who tortures criminals (and mocks them over the car's phone) after a life-changing encounter with muggers.
    — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of torture
Verb
  • Our kitty topples flower pots, breaks windows, and torments neighbors — empowering a dark fantasy so many human beings possess.
    — Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Many of them would remember when the 17th Street Causeway had a draw bridge that tormented drivers, rising frequently for huge sailboats parading out to the Atlantic while locals were just trying to get to Publix.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of torment

Browse Nearby Words

harries
harrow
harrowed
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Cite this Entry

“Harrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrow. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on harrow

Nglish: Translation of harrow for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about harrow

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