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 For newbies: Orphaned after the death of their parents, 6-year-old Lilo (Maia Kealoha), ostracized at school, is being raised by her devoted but harried teenage sister Nani (Sydney Agudong), nearing the age of adult guardianship. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025 These broken objects, and others like them, feed into my general sense of being harried, overburdened, and middle-aged. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 6 May 2025 Bullets, bombs and electronic warfare harry both man and machine. Colin Demarest, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025 Here’s how the individual snaps were divided: Quarterback: Brock Purdy 59, Joshua Dobbs 5 One of the pregame storylines was how harried Purdy might be behind a makeshift offensive line. Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for harry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harry
Verb
  • The president solemnly condemned political violence—the same president who ended his first term by inciting a mob to sack Congress and overturn an election.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
  • The Detroit Lions argue a trademark infringement lawsuit brought against the team by the organizers of the Motor City Muscle music festival, held in Detroit eight years ago, should be sacked.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The internet trolls livestream videos of themselves appearing to harass everyday New Yorkers and often finding themselves being thrown out of apartment buildings, bodegas and other establishments.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
  • The defendants did not know who Huitzilin was, or have any intention of identifying his home address or harassing him.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • If there really was a class of unaccountable, libertine global élites plundering the world, then wasn’t Trump obviously a member?
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
  • What’s the reward for being the most productively plundered of the mid-majors?
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But Saxon said Ye kept him constantly on edge, demanding photo updates of construction work, scolding him for wearing blue instead of the all-black worker uniform Ye preferred, and suddenly adding 24/7 security duties to his workload.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Feb. 2026
  • In Zambrano’s case, Gee scolded the government over how the detention unfolded.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Most family homes had been robbed and looted.
    Yousra Elbagir, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Much of the Kim clan’s once-opulent house had burned down after being looted, Kim says.
    Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In a letter this week to Lassen National Forest Supervisor Rick Hopson, the supervisors noted that their stretch of California has repeatedly been savaged by wildfire.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
  • For months, the two right-wing media stars had been savaging each other on their respective platforms.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In eastern Afghanistan, the Department of Information and Culture accused Pakistan of targeting civilian areas, destroying homes and killing at least 11 people.
    MUNIR AHMED, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
  • The Democrat said Iran’s defenses were weakened and Saturday there was an opportunity to destroy remaining military assets.
    Anthony Shoemaker, The Columbus Dispatch, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • There is, of course, truth to the statement that billionaires are reviled.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
  • During the demonstrations for racial justice in 2020, protestors across the country defaced and tore down statues of Washington, arguing that enslavers should be reviled, not honored.
    John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Harry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harry. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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