harass
gb/hɚˈæs/ us/hɚˈæs/
B2
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
bother someone again and again
To keep bothering someone in a way they do not want, so they feel angry, upset, or stressed.
Usage pattern:
to harass [someone] (again and again)
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "harass" for a single, small annoyance (e.g., one short phone call). In English, "harass" usually suggests repeated or ongoing unwanted behavior. Learners also sometimes confuse "harass" with "embarrass"; "embarrass" means to make someone feel ashamed or shy, not to bother them repeatedly.
Synonyms
pester (Often sounds slightly less serious and more about frequent, annoying requests or questions.)
|
annoy (More general and can be for one-time or mild irritation, not necessarily repeated like "harass".)
|
bother (More informal and softer; may describe smaller, less serious disturbance than "harass".)
Antonyms
leave alone (Means to stop bothering or disturbing someone, which is the opposite of repeatedly harassing them.)
|
respect (Involves treating someone's wishes and space carefully instead of ignoring them by harassing them.)
Collocations
harass someone online
|harass someone at work
|constantly harass someone
|repeatedly harass someone
|phone-harass someone
|harass someone with messages
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|daily life
|conflict
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He keeps changing numbers to harass her with late-night phone calls.
- Fans began to harass the actor online after the rumor spread.
- The customer felt harassed by constant follow-up emails and calls from the sales team.
- Neighbors say they were harassed for months by loud music and shouting.
- Please stop harassing me about this; I've already given you my answer.
Learner examples
- Her ex-boyfriend harassed her with many text messages every day.
- The students said some boys were harassing them in the hallway.
- I feel harassed when you call me again and again at night.
- He was harassed by people online after he posted his opinion.
- Please do not harass your sister about her clothes.
Verb
B2
action
2
abuse or persecute someone repeatedly
To treat someone very badly again and again, in a strong or cruel way, so they feel scared, unsafe, or ashamed.
Usage pattern:
to harass [someone] because of [reason]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "harass" only for sexual behavior. In fact, it also covers repeated aggressive or abusive actions for many reasons (race, gender, politics, etc.). Also, in formal or legal contexts, use "harass" or "harassment," not softer verbs like "bother" when you mean serious abuse.
Synonyms
bully (Focuses on abuse of power, often in school or work, and may include physical or social pressure as well as harassment.)
|
persecute (Stronger and more formal; often used for long-term, serious mistreatment, especially for religion, politics, or identity.)
|
intimidate (Focuses on making someone feel scared so they will do or not do something, which is often part of harassment.)
Antonyms
protect (Means to keep someone safe from harm or abuse, which is the opposite of harassing them.)
|
support (Involves helping and encouraging someone instead of attacking or abusing them.)
Collocations
sexually harass someone
|harass employees
|harass women
|harass someone because of their race
|police harass protesters
|harass a minority group
Themes
work
|law
|rights
|conflict
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Several employees reported that their manager had sexually harassed them over a period of years.
- The new law makes it easier to punish landlords who harass tenants to force them out.
- Activists say the authorities are harassing journalists to silence criticism.
- She felt harassed by coworkers who kept making racist jokes about her.
- The company has a strict policy against harassing anyone because of their gender or religion.
Learner examples
- The boss was fired because he harassed many women at work.
- The police were accused of harassing young men in that area.
- People in the office said they were harassed for their religion.
- He said his neighbors harassed him to make him move away.
- New rules try to stop teachers from harassing students.
unknown
technical
C1
action
3
make repeated small military attacks
In war or fighting, to attack the enemy many times in small ways to make them weaker or slower.
Usage pattern:
to harass [the enemy / opposing forces]
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this as a special military use and may think it only means emotional or social harassment. In military texts, "harass" usually refers to tactical, repeated attacks, not personal bullying.
Synonyms
raid (Suggests a quick surprise attack, often one event, while "harass" is about repeated pressure.)
|
harry (Very close in meaning in military or historical style, but more literary and less common.)
Antonyms
support (In a military sense, to help or strengthen friendly forces, the opposite of harassing them.)
|
cease fire (To stop attacking, which is the direct opposite of continuing to harass an enemy with fire.)
Collocations
harass the enemy
|harass supply lines
|harass retreating forces
|harass enemy positions
|harass with artillery fire
Themes
military
|conflict
|politics
|law
Examples
- Small units were sent ahead to harass the enemy as they crossed the river.
- Fighter jets continued to harass the convoy throughout the night.
- Guerrilla forces used the forest to harass government troops and then disappear.
- Their strategy was not to win a big battle but to harass the occupiers over time.
- Artillery was used mainly to harass enemy positions and disrupt repairs.
Learner examples
- The army used light vehicles to harass the enemy trucks.
- Small groups of soldiers harassed the enemy and then ran away.
- The commander told his men to harass the enemy line, not to attack it directly.
- Fighters in the hills harassed the soldiers on the road every night.
- Their plan was to harass the enemy until it became too weak to fight.
Grammar
Dictionary form
harass
IPA
GB/hɚˈæs/
US/hɚˈæs/
Syllables & stress
har - ass (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (har)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: harass
- 3rd Person Singular: harasses
- Present Participle: harassing
- Past: harassed
Word family
Forms
harasses
verb
harassing
verb
harassed
verb
Core family
harassment
noun B2
Related words
harasser
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.