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
  • The junta then sacked hundreds of French forces sent to fight extremist groups.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • Bellamy, 46, is poised to take his first full-time job in club management, replacing Scott Parker who was sacked in April following Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • John was found guilty of harassing an ex-girlfriend later that same year.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
  • Crow-Armstrong’s poor offensive start doomed his chance to start, while the bad national publicity stemming from a viral video of his profane reaction to a harassing female White Sox fan probably didn’t help matters.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Messi played a gorgeous pass that led to a Lautaro Martinez chance and, on the hour mark, plundered his second of the night after a goalkeeping error.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • After sailing past Scylla and Charybdis (and losing six men), Odysseus lands in Thrinacia, where his companions plunder the Cattle of the Sun.
    Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • This ancient poem isn’t interested in scolding women for their sexuality, but in the establishment of honor in the elite household.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026
  • Davis remembered once being scolded as a teenager by her mother after being caught speaking poorly of a classmate.
    Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • The sandstone artifact, which depicts the Hindu epic character Duryodhana, had in fact been looted from Koh Ker in or around 1972, after the all-important UNESCO convention.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
  • Rioters again attacked police with rocks, bottles and other objects, and looted and burned local buildings.
    Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • But the brutal attack on his girlfriend wasn’t the first time Smith had tried to stop the two pit-bull-and-Catahoua-leopard-mix dogs from savaging someone, according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant filed with the court.
    Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
  • One is a recent hit movie, the other a popular but savaged documentary, setting a Rotten Tomatoes record for Netflix.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, the brother of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, said on Sunday that more than 12,000 people have been displaced by the earthquakes and 774 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including hospitals.
    Alfredo Meza, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • There's nothing more quintessential to being a kid than playing Little League baseball, but on July Fourth, 2025, along with so much more, the Little League fields of Hill Country were destroyed, along with the innocence of thousands of kids who live here.
    Bo Evans, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • They were both reviled and imitated, but always watched as a pop cultural spectacle.
    Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 26 June 2026
  • And he was so reviled by the Hollywood establishment that none other than Frank Sinatra hand-delivered a letter calling for his ouster.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Harry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harry. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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