1
as in frightening
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2
as in annoying
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Dissimilar Words
as in killing
to use up all the physical energy of
had been visibly harassed by the demands of the presidency
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Recent Examples of harassing
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
The line is crossed when someone’s conduct at work becomes disrespectful, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, or disruptive to the team.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Monday night when the teen suspect and two friends woke him up and began harassing him, at one point urinating in a cup and throwing it on the victim, according to prosecutors citing surveillance footage.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
California must pursue any and all options to keep ICE or federal troops from occupying our state and harassing our communities, especially with racially targeted and unconstitutional tactics.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
That same day, Julie Harding was arrested in Kentucky on suspicion of criminal trespassing after allegedly harassing her husband’s girlfriend.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Baldoni, who directed the film and starred in it with Lively, had denied harassing her or orchestrating a smear campaign.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Gloria said her ex-boyfriend had been following and harassing her.
—Paul Larosa, CBS News, 3 May 2026
He was cleared of harassing Brooks on social media.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
Multiple vehicles soon arrived, and people began harassing and chasing federal agents onto the highway, an encounter Alvarez-Gonzalez filmed himself.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The first complaint, in which a clerk made similar accusations of abusive and harassing conduct, was filed with the circuit court in 2022, not long after Merriam’s appointment.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
The line is crossed when someone’s conduct at work becomes disrespectful, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, or disruptive to the team.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
During a motions hearing in May 2024, prosectors presented evidence of Bryant having a history of harassing and stalking young women, even breaking into their apartments, per 11 Alive.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Monday night when the teen suspect and two friends woke him up and began harassing him, at one point urinating in a cup and throwing it on the victim, according to prosecutors citing surveillance footage.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
California must pursue any and all options to keep ICE or federal troops from occupying our state and harassing our communities, especially with racially targeted and unconstitutional tactics.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
That same day, Julie Harding was arrested in Kentucky on suspicion of criminal trespassing after allegedly harassing her husband’s girlfriend.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Baldoni, who directed the film and starred in it with Lively, had denied harassing her or orchestrating a smear campaign.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Gloria said her ex-boyfriend had been following and harassing her.
—Paul Larosa, CBS News, 3 May 2026
He was cleared of harassing Brooks on social media.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
Multiple vehicles soon arrived, and people began harassing and chasing federal agents onto the highway, an encounter Alvarez-Gonzalez filmed himself.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harassing
Adjective
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Such obsession can be a frightening emotion both for the person experiencing it and for the target.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Even more frightening is a judge apologizing to an assassin who risked the lives of 2,000 people while attempting to assassinate the president and his cabinet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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At the same time, workplace politics could feel extra stressful and annoying, especially if someone becomes threatened by your confidence.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
The predatory add-ons were annoying.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Minutes later, Marrero slammed into Trainor's unmarked SUV, killing both men.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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His support of wolves, including a Mexican wolf breeding program on the Ladder Ranch in New Mexico, drew the ire of ranching organizations that were raising the alarm about wild wolves killing livestock.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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For example, Americans living during World War II developed persecutory delusions involving Germans, while those living during the Cold War focused on communists.—
Alaina Vandervoort Burns,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Structured as entries in Emily’s field journal, the novel lays out her aims, her curmudgeonly nature and her pestiferous relationship with one Wendell Bambleby — a charismatic fellow researcher and sometime rival who Emily suspects is a fairy himself.—
Amal El-Mohtar,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2023
-
The whole event was lousy with pestiferous Bible-banging.—
Charles P. Pierce,
Esquire,
12 Dec. 2017
Verb
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One image showed Alba enjoying a more casual meal with her pal while wearing an LA baseball cap.—
Sarah Sotoodeh,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
Emma Bailey Leary, who manages events for Bart’s Books, the town’s storied outdoor bookshop, wandered in wearing head-to-toe fuchsia.—
Priyanka Mattoo,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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The dinner scene with Niall’s mum, Lori (Neve McIntosh), and Ruben’s mum, Maura (Marianne McIvor) — when Joanna confronts them over Ruben’s behaviour — is both chilling and cathartic.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
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With the ubiquity of artificial intelligence, this revival is a chilling night at the theatre, Helen Shaw writes.—
Austin Elias-de Jesus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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The group, loosely led by inquisitive ginger breed Lily (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and good-natured merino Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) enjoy a peaceful existence, with their favorite pastimes consisting of laying in the grass and listening to George read a nightly murder mystery story.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
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As a child, Signe was bright, curious, and inquisitive.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harassing. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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