harass
To annoy (someone) frequently or systematically; to pester.
Other meanings
To persistently bother (someone, or a group of people) physically or psychologically when such behaviour is illegal and/or unwanted, especially over an extended period.
To put excessive burdens upon (someone); to subject (someone) to anxieties.
“To harass good people is no different than speaking ill of them.”
Synonyms
- plague
Word history
From Old French "harer" (to set a dog on).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “harass” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.