harass
pronunciation
How to pronounce harass in British English:
UK [ˈhærəs]
How to pronounce harass in American English:
US [həˈræs]
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- Verb:
- annoy continually or chronically
- exhaust by attacking repeatedly
Word Origin
- harass (v.)
- 1610s, "to lay waste, devastate" (obsolete); 1620s, "to vex by repeated attacks," from French harasser "tire out, vex" (16c.), which is of uncertain origin; possibly from Old French harer "stir up, provoke; set a dog on," and perhaps blended with Old French harier "to harry, draw, drag" [Barnhart]. Related: Harassed; harassing.
Example
- 1. Plainclothes goons routinely follow and harass visiting correspondents .
- 2. And then further harass you .
- 3. Cops used them to harass protesters at the g20 summit in pittsburgh this year .
- 4. The political leader , a. subramanyam , arrived and told the sks agents not to harass his neighbors .
- 5. Boys can harass girls , but girls also can harass guys , guys may harass other guys , and girls may harass other girls .