verb

harass

huh-RASS/həˈræs/

To repeatedly bother or mistreat someone.

The man harasses the woman by repeatedly following and poking her shoulder.

A text-free three-panel sequence shows the same man persistently following and poking a woman's shoulder as she tries to move away, repeatedly raises a stop hand, and becomes visibly distressed.

Etymology

French harasser meant to tire out or vex. English developed the sense of vexing through repeated attacks, connecting persistent pressure with distress; the French verb’s deeper origin is uncertain.

In context

rosaryfilms27:02

going to a classroom to wait till a particular student is leaving the classroom to threaten and and harass them because they may not be willing to join the gang

Juvenile Status Offenders And Their Families / Educational Documentary Video

More examples

She quit because her supervisor kept harassing her.
The neighbors harassed us with threatening phone calls.
He harasses his coworkers with cruel jokes about their appearance.

Forms

harass · harasses · harassed · harassing

harassment noun — Repeated behavior that bothers or mistreats someone.

harasser noun — Someone who repeatedly bothers or mistreats another.

Similar words

pester: Emphasizes annoying someone repeatedly, often with requests or questions.
bully: Emphasizes using power or threats to intimidate someone.
torment: Emphasizes causing severe distress rather than simply repeated annoyance.