Word
harassed
Phoneticsha·rassed, stress on the second syllable
US/hɝˈæst/
UK/həɹˈæst/
Definitions
01stressed and pressured
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. feeling tired and stressed because you have too much work or too many problems to deal with at once.
adj. feeling strained or exhausted due to persistent demands, interruptions, or pressures.
“The shop assistant looked harassed as she tried to help five customers at the same time.”
“The manager appeared increasingly harassed as the deadline approached, juggling constant phone calls while attempting to finalise the quarterly budget.”
Usage
Often describes a person's appearance or facial expression.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'busy'; 'harassed' implies a negative emotional state of being overwhelmed, not just having a lot to do.
02subject to unwanted attention
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. experiencing repeated, unpleasant, or threatening behaviour from someone else.
adj. subjected to persistent, intrusive, or aggressive behaviour that causes distress.
“The celebrity felt harassed by the photographers who followed her every move.”
“The committee investigated claims that junior staff felt harassed by the aggressive management style of the new director.”
Usage
Commonly used in legal or workplace contexts regarding conduct.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Others verbally abused her; more than once, she was harassed off the train.” “A Florida police officer was fired and arrested in March 2026 for using data gathered by ALPRs to stalk a woman he had previously harassed on a TV set .” Etymology
From harass + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/harassed