1
as in frightening
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in annoying
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in killing
to use up all the physical energy of
had been visibly harassed by the demands of the presidency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
While colectivo members were largely quiet immediately after Maduro’s abduction, some videos released on social media and news outlets have shown men believed to be colectivo members harassing reporters and people in the streets.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Since the video was posted, Hasan, who is Somali, said his center has received harassing phone calls making staff members and parents feel unsafe.
—Charlotte Kramon, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
This advanced fee loan phishing scam often comes in the form of harassing phone calls and voicemails.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
He is charged with a handful of felonies and is facing up to life if found guilty of tampering or harassing a witness, victim or informant, according to the affidavit.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
He was accused of harassing the troops, though O'Hara disputed the claim.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Kleinstreuer, who subsequently received harassing messages and death threats online, has required security protection.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
In July 2022, Avalos was convicted of felony stalking in Dakota County, Minnesota, after repeatedly contacting and harassing a victim in violation of state law.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Student and faculty critics also accused the university of being too slow to respond to complaints about a rising star astrophysicist, Christian Ott, accused or harassing and discriminating against female graduate students as early as 2012.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
While colectivo members were largely quiet immediately after Maduro’s abduction, some videos released on social media and news outlets have shown men believed to be colectivo members harassing reporters and people in the streets.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Since the video was posted, Hasan, who is Somali, said his center has received harassing phone calls making staff members and parents feel unsafe.
—Charlotte Kramon, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
This advanced fee loan phishing scam often comes in the form of harassing phone calls and voicemails.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
He is charged with a handful of felonies and is facing up to life if found guilty of tampering or harassing a witness, victim or informant, according to the affidavit.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
He was accused of harassing the troops, though O'Hara disputed the claim.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Kleinstreuer, who subsequently received harassing messages and death threats online, has required security protection.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
In July 2022, Avalos was convicted of felony stalking in Dakota County, Minnesota, after repeatedly contacting and harassing a victim in violation of state law.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harassing
Adjective
-
But that depiction was picked apart by a vast array of online onlookers, from law enforcement experts to ordinary Instagram users, some of whom replayed the videos frame by frame and zoomed in to show the episode in frightening detail.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The news this week that CPW employees are facing a variety of threats from radical elements in both groups of Coloradans strikes us as ironic sad — and frightening.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Garlic supplements and dietary garlic can have health benefits, and a few annoying side effects, like bad breath and stomach upset.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Patriots’ fans view Sunday as an annoying calisthenic, if not a joke.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has warned against killing protesters and had repeatedly threatened to intervene if Tehran does not change course.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Many did not experience concentration camps but were forced to flee villages and towns as Nazi forces advanced, destroying homes and killing millions.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Some people even shared old photos of Indigenous peoples wearing the hoods, noting that the originators of the design kept the fur outward to break cold wind and trap snow.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Chavez posted a photo of Gregory Bovino walking down 33rd Street and Portland Avenue, flanked by three agents wearing masks.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For instance under the relax are specific recordings for recharging, chilling, unwinding, destressing and traveling.—
Scott Kramer,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
When the characters occasionally look at the camera, the effect is chilling, briefly but powerfully bridging the distance between then and now, them and us.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Inspiration from Architecture Diana Milkanova is inquisitive by nature and has always found inspiration in architecture.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
At the center of the investigation is Bundle (Mia McKenna-Bruce), a sharp and inquisitive young woman unwilling to accept easy explanations.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harassing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
