# harass

> English word · Verb · IPA /həˈɹæs/ · frequency rank #20,132

## Definitions
1. To annoy (someone) frequently or systematically; to pester.
2. To annoy (someone) frequently or systematically; to pester.
3. To put excessive burdens upon (someone); to subject (someone) to anxieties.
4. To trouble (someone, or a group of people) through repeated military-style attacks.
5. Often followed by out: to fatigue or tire (someone) with exhausting and repeated efforts.

## Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle French, Old French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out; to harry, torment, vex”) (modern French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out”)), possibly from Old French harer (“to set a dog on”), from Frankish *hara (“here, hither”) (a command for a dog to attack), from Proto-Germanic *hē₂r (“here, in this place”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱe (“here; this”) + *ís (“the (person or thing just named)”) + *-r.
The noun is derived from the verb.

## Easily confused with
- **harsh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harass-vs-harsh)
- **hares** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harass-vs-hares)
- **Harps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harass-vs-harps)
- **Harris** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harass-vs-harris)
- **harness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harass-vs-harness)
- **harassed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harass-vs-harassed)
- **Hara** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hara-vs-harass)
- **Haas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/haas-vs-harass)
- **Hamas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hamas-vs-harass)
- **haram** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/haram-vs-harass)
- **Harare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harare-vs-harass)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ahrass`, `haarss`, `haras`, `harrass`, `harsas`, `hharass`, `hraass`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/harass