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Harassing: meaning, definitions and examples

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harassing

 

[ həˈræsɪŋ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

inappropriate behavior

Harassing is the act of constantly troubling or annoying someone with aggressive or abusive behavior. It can manifest in different forms such as verbal threats, physical intimidation, or persistent unwanted contact. Harassment often creates a hostile or uncomfortable environment for the victim.

Synonyms

bullying, intimidating, tormenting

Examples of usage

  • The employee reported her coworker for harassing her with offensive comments.
  • She felt unsafe walking home alone after being harassed by a stranger on the street.
  • Online harassment can have serious psychological effects on its victims.
Context #2 | Noun

workplace

In a workplace setting, harassment refers to any unwelcome conduct based on a protected characteristic such as race, gender, or religion. This can include offensive jokes, derogatory comments, or unwanted physical contact. Harassment is prohibited by law and organizations have a responsibility to address and prevent it.

Synonyms

bullying, discrimination, victimization

Examples of usage

  • The company has a strict policy against harassment and provides training to prevent it.
  • She filed a complaint with HR about the ongoing harassment she was experiencing.

Translations

Translations of the word "harassing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 assediando

🇮🇳 उत्पीड़न

🇩🇪 belästigend

🇮🇩 mengganggu

🇺🇦 переслідування

🇵🇱 nękający

🇯🇵 嫌がらせ

🇫🇷 harcèlement

🇪🇸 acosando

🇹🇷 taciz eden

🇰🇷 괴롭히는

🇸🇦 مضايقة

🇨🇿 obtěžující

🇸🇰 obťažovanie

🇨🇳 骚扰

🇸🇮 nadlegovanje

🇮🇸 áreita

🇰🇿 қудалау

🇬🇪 შევიწროვება

🇦🇿 taciz

🇲🇽 acosando

Etymology

The word 'harassing' originated from the Middle French word 'harasser', which means 'to tire, impede, exhaust'. It was first used in the 17th century to describe the act of tormenting or troubling someone persistently. Over time, the term evolved to encompass various forms of aggressive or abusive behavior towards others.

See also: harass, harassed, harasser, harassment.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,594, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.