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
  • Linebacker Derick Hall and lineman Byron Murphy sacked Maye twice.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Derick Hall and Byron Murphy each sacked Maye twice.
    Alex Valdes, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Seattle defense, which nicknamed itself the Dark Side, lived in quarterback Drake Maye’s face, sacking him six times and harassing him into three turnovers.
    Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Callella has been arrested on suspicion of transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Set in a deeply dystopian future, a group of scientists seeks to plunder the memories of writer Daniel Feeld's frozen head.
    Chris McMullen, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Most Americans don’t want our nation to be an imperial aggressor threatening, conquering and plundering weaker nations.
    Washington Post, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Young kids paddled near the shallow edges and bigger kids jumped off the cliffs above the swimming hole, causing the adults to gasp and scold.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 4 Feb. 2026
  • During the trip, the priest who was showing them around was scolded.
    McKinley Franklin, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The item belongs to a rare collection of French crown jewels still held by the nation, after most were looted during the French Revolution beginning in 1789.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Law enforcement officers were injured, autonomous vehicles were set on fire and stores were looted.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 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
  • More than 12,000 scrolls were once stored inside this second-century center of learning before a fire destroyed them in 262 CE.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Feeling bored, resentful and trapped by domestic life, Hedda hatches a plan to destroy her husband’s potential career rival, Eilert Lovberg, who happens to be her ex-lover.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Trump is reviled on issues in poll after poll; Israel has never been the recipient of so much global criticism.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Harry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harry. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

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