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 The Justice Department said McMahon took additional steps to harass the man, like researching his daughter's university residence and college major. —Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 Jason tells us that Jax has been harassing all the guys in the group chat to support his party. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025 Journalists have been intimidated, threatened, harassed. —Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025 The school is accused of not acting to stop the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group on its campus — along with faculty and other activists — from harassing Jewish and Israeli students, or those who appear to belong to either group. —Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for harass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harass
  1. kill
  2. wear
  3. exhaust
  4. tire
Verb
  • Renee Moore worked near the building and relied on its daycare for her 6-month-old son Antonio Cooper Jr., who was among those killed.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Drones hit a bread factory in Sumy, killing one person, Zelensky said.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of kill
Verb
  • His bond was set at $50,000, and he is required to wear an ankle monitor.
    — Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Throughout the case, Cruz appeared in court wearing protective restraint mittens handcuffed in place.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of wear
Verb
  • They will be exhausted after Grandma wrangling for 4 hours.
    — Erin Clack, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Their lineup has not exhausted opposing pitching staffs for a full series in a manner that has been their trademark for years.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 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 2 May. 2025.

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