Harassment — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective noun /hə-ˈras/ (verb) /ˌan-tē-hə-ˈras-mənt/ (adjective) ha·rass

Meaning & Definition of Harassment

Harassment (verb)

  1. exhaust, fatigue
  2. to annoy persistently
  3. to create an unpleasant or hostile situation for especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct

Harassment (adjective)

  1. serving or intended to discourage or prevent harassment

Harassment (noun)

  1. uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature especially by a person in authority toward a subordinate (such as an employee or student)

Harassment (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another

    "he owes her a lot of money, so he shouldn't be surprised at her constant harassment for a repayment"

    similar: aggravation, annoyance, bedevilment, botheration, bothering, bugging, disturbance, harrying, importunity, pestering, teasing, vexation
    related: aggro (British), molestation, offense, persecution, provocation, torment, torture, devilment, devilry, mischief

Related Entry: Harass (verb)

Harass is a different word from Harassment. The synonyms below are for harass, not for harassment.

  1. to use up all the physical energy of

    "had been visibly harassed by the demands of the presidency"

    similar: break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, exhaust, fag, fatigue, frazzle, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary, wear to a frazzle
    related: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken
    near: activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize, relax, rest, unwind

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Harassment

The most common words with a similar meaning to Harassment:

aggravation, annoyance, bedevilment, botheration, bothering, bugging, disturbance, harrying, importunity, pestering, teasing, vexation

Related Words for Harassment

aggro, molestation, offense, persecution, provocation, torment, torture, devilment, devilry, mischief

Word Forms of Harassment

Inflections: harassed, harassing, harasses

Derived words: harasser (noun), harassment (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Harassment

French harasser, from Middle French, from harer to set a dog on, from Old French hare, interjection used to incite dogs, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hier here here

First known use: 1612

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Harassment

Words & Phrases Containing Harassment

anti-harassment, sexual harassment

Frequently Asked Questions about Harassment

What does "Harassment" mean?

"Harassment" means exhaust, fatigue. As an a verb, an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: exhaust, fatigue.

What is another word for "Harassment"?

Other words for "Harassment" include aggravation, annoyance, bedevilment, botheration, bothering, bugging, disturbance and harrying. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Harassment" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Harassment"?

There are 22 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Harassment". Common alternatives include aggravation, annoyance, bedevilment, botheration, bothering, bugging, disturbance, harrying, importunity and pestering.

How do you use "Harassment" in a sentence?

Examples of "Harassment" in a sentence: "he owes her a lot of money, so he shouldn't be surprised at her constant harassment for a repayment".

Is "Harassment" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Harassment" can be used as a verb, an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Harassment" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Harassment" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Harassment"?

"Harassment" is pronounced /hə-ˈras/ as a verb and /ˌan-tē-hə-ˈras-mənt/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as ha·rass.

What is the origin of the word "Harassment"?

"Harassment" comes from French harasser, from Middle French, from harer to set a dog on, from Old French hare, interjection used to incite dogs, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hier here here. First known use: 1612.