harass

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 In 2022, Miller got a restraining order filed against them by two people alleging that Miller harassed and threatened them. Caroline Blair, People.com, 23 June 2025 Miller sought to shield these women, her suit said, and as a result she was humiliated, harassed and ultimately forced out of her job by Spitzer and Nelson. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 20 June 2025 But in February 2023, a group of Christian churches and anti-LGBTQ+ groups began opposing the event, staging sit-in protests at the public library where the event was held, harassing the performers online and claiming that the event was putting the children attending in danger. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 12 June 2025 Widespread issue The issue of bettors harassing athletes is widespread across sporting disciplines, with tennis and NBA players reporting instances of abuse. Amy Woodyatt, CNN Money, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for harass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harass
Verb
  • Some residents cited New Orleans’ resilience during tough times – think Hurricane Katrina or after 14 were killed this year after a man drove a speeding truck into New Year’s Day revelers on Bourbon Street – and took it in stride.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 17 June 2025
  • After the Challenger disaster in 1986, when a space shuttle exploded just 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members, public support for NASA plummeted.
    Avery Padraic Kerrigan, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Ora wore her hair in long, loose waves for the event, with her curtain bangs parted in the center and pushed to either side of her face, then curled into flipped-out, Farrah Fawcett-style swoops.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 16 June 2025
  • Devers, who often wears his emotions on sleeve, offered only a straightforward answer.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • In the new workplace, don’t exhaust yourself to win over everyone.
    Naira Velumyan, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • If Southern California Edison equipment is found to have sparked the blaze on Jan. 7, as dozens of lawsuits allege, the damage claims could quickly exhaust the state’s $21-billion wildfire fund.
    Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Incoming waves in rapid succession can tire even an experienced swimmer quickly.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
  • The bucket full of cleaning products includes glass cleaning wipes, an interior detailer spray, a car wash and wax for the exterior, wheel and tire cleaner and microfiber cleaning cloths.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harass. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on harass

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!