Meaning & use
harass or harrass
Last updated
UK/həˈræs/
US/həˈræs/
Meaning
verbtransitive
To annoy or bother someone repeatedly in an unwanted way.
Grammar: Takes an object: 'harass someone'. It is often used in passive: 'She was harassed at work.'
Patterns
- harass someone
- harass someone about something
- be harassed by someone
He was accused of harassing his coworkers.
Stop harassing me with constant questions.
The company has a policy against harassing employees.
Word forms
| third person singular | harasses |
|---|---|
| past tense | harassed |
| past participle | harassed |
| -ing form | harassing |
Common combinations
- sexually harass
- It is illegal to sexually harass someone in the workplace.
- harass someone at work
- She claimed her boss harassed her at work.
- constantly harass
- The reporters constantly harassed the celebrity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bother
- Less serious and can be unintentional; 'harass' implies repeated, deliberate, and often distressing behavior.
- pester
- Similar but often about minor, annoying requests; 'harass' is stronger and can be a legal term.
Opposites
leave alonecomfort
Word family
- harassment noun
- The act of harassing or the state of being harassed.
- harasser noun
- A person who harasses others.
Commonly confused: harass or harrass or harrass?
harass or harrass vs harrass
This is a common misspelling. The correct spelling has one 'r' and two 's's: 'harass'.
Practice
Which is the correct spelling?
Choose one answer.
'Harass' is spelled with one 'r' and double 's'. The other options are incorrect spellings.
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