Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks and criticism: "Harassment" refers to the action of subjecting someone to aggressive pressure, intimidation, or unwanted and disturbing behavior repeatedly over time.
   • A feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented: "Harassment" can also describe the distressed psychological state resulting from such persistent torment.

Usage

• The word "harassment" is typically used in legal, social, and workplace contexts to describe unacceptable, often systematic, behavior intended to disturb, threaten, or upset someone.
• It is commonly modified by adjectives specifying the type, such as "sexual harassment," "workplace harassment," or "online harassment."
• It functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept or behavior, but can be countable when referring to specific instances or types.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The company has a strict policy against any form of harassment.
  • She filed a complaint about the persistent harassment from her coworker.
  • The constant phone calls amounted to criminal harassment.

Advanced Usage

• "To be subjected to harassment": to be made a victim of harassing behavior.
  • Employees must not be subjected to harassment of any kind.
• "A campaign of harassment": a sustained, organized series of harassing acts.
  • The journalist faced a campaign of harassment for her critical reports.

Variants and Related Words

• Harass (verb): to subject someone to harassment; to pester or annoy persistently.
  • It is illegal to harass someone based on their race.
• Harasser (noun): a person who harasses someone.
  • The harasser was issued a restraining order.

Synonyms

• Persecution: hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race, political, or religious beliefs.
• Intimidation: the action of frightening or threatening someone, often to make them do something.
• Bullying: the use of superior strength or influence to intimidate someone, typically to force them to do something.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Verb Phrases

• To harass someone into doing something: to pressure someone relentlessly until they comply.
  • He was harassed into resigning from his position.

Related Idioms

• A hostile work environment: This legal and idiomatic phrase often results from severe or pervasive harassment that makes it difficult for an employee to work.
  • The lawsuit claimed that the manager's behavior created a hostile work environment.

Noun

1. the act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks and criticism
2. a feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented
   • so great was his harassment that he wanted to destroy his tormentors