har·ass [harassharassesharassedharassing] BrE [ˈhærəs] NAmE [ˈhærəs] BrE [həˈræs] NAmE [həˈræs] verb 1. often passive ~ sb to annoy or worry sb by putting pressure on them or saying or doing unpleasant things to them •He has complained of being harassed by the police. •She claims she has been sexually harassed at work. 2.~ sb/sth to make repeated attacks on an enemy Syn: ↑harry •Our convoys are being continually harassed by enemy submarines. •Greenpeace has been harassing whaling operations at sea. Derived Word: ↑harassment Verb forms:
Word Origin: early 17th cent.: from French harasser, from harer ‘set a dog on’, from Germanic hare, a cry urging a dog to attack.
Thesaurus: harass verb T, often passive (disapproving) •He complained of being harassed by the police. nag • • pester • |BrE go on • |written hound • • harry • • hector • • persecute • harass/nag/pester/go on at/hector sb about sth harass/pester/harry sb with sth harass/nag/harry/hector sb into doing sth
Example Bank: •He told her that if she continued to harass him, he would call the police. •Opposition supporters were frequently harassed. •Protesters have been blocking access to the clinic and physically harassing staff. •The man harassed a neighbour with racist abuse. •There were claims that he sexually harassed female employees.
