Word
harassment
Phoneticsha·rass·ment, stress on the second syllable
US/hɝˈæsmənt/
UK/həɹˈæsmənt/
Definitions
01unwanted behavior
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. unwanted behavior that makes you feel upset, worried, or unsafe, especially when it happens repeatedly.
n. the act of systematic or continued unwanted behavior that causes distress or fear in the recipient.
“The company has a strict policy against any form of workplace harassment.”
“The legal definition of harassment often requires proof that the behavior was both unwanted and repeated over a period of time.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02sexual harassment
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. unwanted sexual comments, looks, or physical contact that makes someone feel uncomfortable.
n. unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
“She reported the manager for sexual harassment after he made several inappropriate comments.”
“The human resources department conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment brought by several employees.”
03military pressure
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Military Technical
n. using many small attacks to tire out an enemy army.
n. the use of repeated small-scale attacks or maneuvers designed to wear down the morale and resources of an enemy force.
“The soldiers used constant harassment to keep the enemy from resting.”
“The guerrilla forces relied on a strategy of constant harassment, avoiding major battles while slowly depleting the occupier's supplies and resolve.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “harassment” in context.
Verb
01. constitute harassment
“The court ruled that the repeated unwanted phone calls did indeed constitute harassment.”
verb + noun
02. report harassment
“Employees are encouraged to report harassment to the human resources department immediately.”
verb + noun
03. suffer from harassment
“Many victims suffer from harassment for months before seeking legal advice.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. relentless harassment
“The journalist faced relentless harassment from online trolls after publishing the article.”
adj + noun
05. systemic harassment
“The investigation revealed systemic harassment within the organization's hierarchy.”
adj + noun
06. sexual harassment
“The company implemented a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual harassment in the workplace.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. allegation of harassment
“The manager resigned following a serious allegation of harassment by a former assistant.”
noun + of + noun
08. victim of harassment
“Support groups provide a safe space for any victim of harassment to share their story.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
09. protection against harassment
“New laws were passed to provide better protection against harassment for whistleblowers.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by the Trump administration that alleged Harvard University failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment.” “WestJet agreed to hire a third-party to conduct a workplace inquiry that will examine the prevalence of harassment, the extent of underreporting and how reporting systems can be made more effective.” “Latest data from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA , on Thursday highlighted how Israeli settler “violence and harassment” have continued to target Palestinian communities across the West Bank.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French harassement. By surface analysis, harass + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/harassment