harassed 1 of 2

adjective

as in tortured

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harassed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of harass
as in killed
to use up all the physical energy of had been visibly harassed by the demands of the presidency

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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 harassed
Adjective
Others were placed under house arrest, harassed or subject to extensive surveillance, or had their passports confiscated, according to prior NPR reporting and the findings of the United Nations and rights groups. — Emily Feng, NPR, 17 May 2026 For years, Christian clergy who live and work in Jerusalem have reported being frequently spat on, harassed and even physically attacked by Israeli extremists. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026 In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026 In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points. — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026 When teachers became the complaint Several cases described teachers discussing their own political views on the latest Israel-Hamas war in ways that state investigators said foreseeably made Jewish students feel uncomfortable, harassed or targeted. — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026 The Broncos beat up, bruised, harassed and downright punished Herbert from the start. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025 Some writers who criticized Taylor Swift reported that they and their family members had been threatened, harassed, and doxed. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 2023, two adults harassed a 9-year-old child at an elementary school track meet. — Megan Gandy, The Conversation, 1 July 2026 The operation, ProPublica found, ensnared innocent residents of the majority-Black city who said they were targeted and harassed because of their race. — Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Jewish students have been harassed and assaulted on college campuses. — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026 He’s being harassed by a villain named Kester Bool, who is attempting a coup to take control of the League from Pax. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 In his first career start, against Colorado, Lewis harassed speedy QB Kordell Stewart all day, notching 17 tackles in a Miami win. — Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 25 June 2026 In 2018, reflecting unfortunate norms in worldwide sports media, female sports journalists representing global news outlets at the FIFA World Cup in Russia were physically harassed and assaulted by fans on camera. — Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, Fortune, 23 June 2026 Police say Bunn stalked and harassed the woman in a blue Chevrolet Silverado and would park in areas to watch and follow her. — Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 13 June 2026 The man walked away, but Thompson followed and harassed him, deputies say. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harassed
  1. tortured
  2. killed
  3. frustrated
  4. tired
  5. harried
  6. wore
  7. irritated
  8. exhausted
Adjective
  • It’s held together beautifully by Bailey, who’s easy to root for as the tortured protagonist, and, as one half (along with her sister) of the musical duo Chloe x Halle, knows a thing or two about the musician’s plight.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 26 June 2026
  • Superman pops in for a couple of cute scenes along the way, while another DC side character, the alien and bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa), appears as a tortured bit of universe-building.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026
Definition of tortured
Verb
  • Israel retaliated with a massive military offensive that has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry says, around half of them women and children.
    — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Hayati did not provide further details on the people killed or injured.
    — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of killed
Adjective
  • Djokovic became so frustrated that he was given a code violation warning for smashing a racket, before eventually hauling himself over the line.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Keli Gonzalez, a painter the museum commissioned, became frustrated by the lack of female representation.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of frustrated
Verb
  • Fellow striker Ricardo Pepi tired out the Australian back line all day.
    — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 20 June 2026
  • Plus, their fabric and fill are less likely to accrue that ever-darkening yellowish stain that tired goose down pillows acquire over time, thanks to sweat, oils, lotion residues, etc.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • The confluence of those problems lead to a harried, chew-your-fingernails night for all the star players in this final season.
    — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • There appears to be some confusion about what roads near the Garden will or could be closed down for the Friday gathering — a situation made all the more harried by the proximity of Penn Station, ongoing FIFA World Cup tourism and seen-it-all NYC being NYC leaning into the July 4 shindig.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 June 2026
Definition of harried
Verb
  • French President Emmanuel Macron wore a pair of aviator sunglasses indoors again.
    — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026
  • While visiting Evelina London Children’s Hospital, the princess wore a breezy white shirt dress cinched with a black waist belt and finished with classic kitten heels.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of wore
Adjective
  • The byproduct was irritated, itchy skin with the discomfort of scratches, scabs and the stink that accompanied it.
    — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • There was a point in Patrick Paul’s ascension last season where his smirk, his hearty chuckles irritated, if not frustrated his opponents to the point of anger.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Definition of irritated
Verb
  • Base editing was used for the first time in a 2022 clinical trial to modify the immune cells of a UK teenager after doctors exhausted all other options to treat her form of leukemia.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • As a retired New Jersey State Trooper, Bob exhausted all of his law enforcement resources.
    — Edie Peffley, NBC news, 8 July 2026
Definition of exhausted

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Cite this Entry

“Harassed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harassed. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on harassed

Nglish: Translation of harassed for Spanish Speakers

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