harass

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To annoy (someone) frequently or systematically; to pester.
2. (specifically, transitive) To annoy (someone) frequently or systematically; to pester.
3. (transitive) To put excessive burdens upon (someone); to subject (someone) to anxieties.
4. (transitive) To trouble (someone, or a group of people) through repeated military-style attacks.
5. (obsolete, transitive) Often followed by out: to fatigue or tire (someone) with exhausting and repeated efforts.

Noun

Harassment; pestering.

Synonyms

annoy

bother

torment

trouble

disturb

vex

pester

molest

harry

tease

oppress

afflict

persecute

bully

plague

worry

badger

🦡

pressure

irritate

torture

hassle

hound

beset

pain

injure

provoke

browbeat

perturb

attack

👊

agitate

exasperate

irk

distress

agonize

derange

harm

scold

intimidate

bludgeon

pinch

compel

coerce

chivvy

chivy

paw

chevy

bedevil

dragoon

interfere

cause trouble

Translations

harceler

tourmenter

βασανίζω

belästigen

assillare

perseguitare

quälen

molestar

incomodar

verfolgen

plagen

fatigo

inquietare

kwellen

acosar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhæɹəs/

Etymology

Cognate with French: harasser

In summary

The verb is derived from Middle French, Old French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out; to harry, torment, vex”) (modern French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out”)), possibly from Old French harer (“to set a dog on”), from Frankish *hara (“here, hither”) (a command for a dog to attack), from Proto-Germanic *hē₂r (“here, in this place”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱe (“here; this”) + *ís (“the (person or thing just named)”) + *-r.
The noun is derived from the verb.