# harassing

/hɝˈæsɪŋ/ (US) · /həɹˈæsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/harassing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. pestering or intimidating

adjective · CEFR B2

describing behavior that is annoying, stressful, or makes you feel unsafe because it happens repeatedly.

For teachers: characterised by persistent pestering, intimidation, or unwanted attention that creates a hostile environment.

- The worker complained about the harassing phone calls he received after work hours.
- The legal team argued that the constant, harassing surveillance by the private investigator constituted a clear breach of privacy laws.

### 2. the act of bothering someone

verb · CEFR B2

the action of annoying or upsetting someone over and over again.

For teachers: the present participle of 'harass', used to describe the ongoing action of subjecting someone to aggressive pressure or intimidation.

- Stop harassing your sister and let her finish her homework in peace.
- The supervisor was accused of harassing junior staff members by setting impossible deadlines and criticizing their personal lives.

### 3. the activity of harassment

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act or activity of bothering or upsetting someone.

For teachers: the gerund form used to denote the general activity or instance of harassment.

- The company has a very strict policy against any kind of harassing in the office.
- The report detailed several instances of harassing that had gone unpunished due to a lack of clear reporting procedures within the department.

## Examples

- He was arrested for making harassing phone calls.
- The company implemented a new policy to protect employees from a harassing work environment.
- The legal team argued that the constant surveillance constituted a harassing pattern of behavior intended to silence the whistleblower.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.