harry

Definition of harrynext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb harry contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of harry are annoy, harass, pester, plague, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When can annoy be used instead of harry?

The words annoy and harry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

Where would harass be a reasonable alternative to harry?

While the synonyms harass and harry are close in meaning, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When might pester be a better fit than harry?

The words pester and harry can be used in similar contexts, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When would plague be a good substitute for harry?

The synonyms plague and harry are sometimes interchangeable, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use tease instead of harry?

While in some cases nearly identical to harry, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

In what contexts can worry take the place of harry?

The meanings of worry and harry largely overlap; however, 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 harry Servers in the very busy Studio Bar at cocktail hour were attentive, if harried at times, and the bartenders mix great drinks. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026 The Antonelli hype is real Norris harried Antonelli for the rest of the 57-lap race, but the reigning world champion could not force the Mercedes sophomore into a fault. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 May 2026 There is a lot of work to do, but Hurley does not sound stressed or harried as in years past. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Apr. 2026 She, too, was harried and didn’t devote enough time to self-care. — Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harry
Verb
  • Garrett burst off the line at the snap and sacked Daniels for a 12-yard loss.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The Broncos’ Nick Bonitto got to Young, sacked him, forced a fumble and recovered it in the process.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Nellie Bly’s monkey, McGinty, bit people and harassed the crew, who tried to throw him overboard.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Nov. 2026
  • In 2021, the woman’s downstairs neighbor began to routinely harass and stalk her and her daughter, the suit alleged.
    — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Military leaders on both sides have also plundered Sudan’s vast gold reserves, smuggling much of their takings out of the country.
    — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Social media posts and merchant reports said luxury and beauty stores, including Sephora, Celine, Burberry and Louis Vuitton, were plundered.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Huang is known to be a difficult and exacting boss with a track record of publicly scolding staff.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026
  • In 2025, Foxx scolded a patron for flinging an object onstage during rapper GloRilla’s performance at a previous SKVLK Fest.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The Kingdom of Benin, in what is now Nigeria, was looted of roughly 5,000 religious objects by the British in 1897.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Widespread unrest watch now Since late September, France has seen violent protests across the country, with demonstrations dissolving into riots and looting in late October.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Also promoting Raman is the transportation advocacy group Streets for All, which has produced dozens of digital ads savaging Bass over her record on homelessness, the Palisades fire and other issues.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Patinkin is the latest star to voice his support for Digger after the film was savaged by many critics and bombed at the box office.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Chemically destroying the channel in adult mouse osteocytes accelerated signs of aging far beyond the skeleton, affecting the brain, liver, and muscles.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The light generates highly reactive chlorine radicals that activate carbon atoms along the polymer chains without destroying them.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • In the American psyche, data centers have become so reviled that big tech can’t even pay residents life changing money to welcome the facilities into their backyards.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026
  • He was admired by some as a charismatic statesman who put Italy on the world stage but reviled by others as a populist who used political power for personal gain.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Harry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harry. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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