Harassing
/həˈræsɪŋ/
Definitions
To bother or torment someone persistently.
/həˈræs/
To subject someone to aggressive pressure or intimidation.
The protestors were accused of harassing local residents.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone constantly bothering you, like a mosquito buzzing around your ear. Harassing is when someone keeps bothering you, maybe saying mean things or trying to make you feel bad.
👶 For kids: To keep bothering someone and not leaving them alone.
More Examples
He continued to harass her with unwanted phone calls.
The constant pressure from the debt collectors was harassing.
How It's Used
"She filed a complaint against her employer for sexual harassment."
"The employee was accused of harassing his colleagues with inappropriate jokes."
Idioms & expressions
sexual harassment
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
"The company has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment."
From Old French *harasser* (to hound, torment), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to *hare* (a variant of *hair*) or from a Germanic source.
The word 'harass' and its related forms, like 'harassing,' began to appear in English in the 16th and 17th centuries, initially carrying military connotations like 'to lay waste' or 'to plunder.' Over time, its meaning evolved to encompass a broader sense of troubling or annoying.
Memory tip
Think of a relentless bully constantly bothering someone. That's harassing.
Word Origin
"to hound, torment"