Harassment
Aggressive pressure or intimidation; the act of subjecting someone to aggressive pressure or intimidation.
Implies repeated, unwanted actions that annoy, alarm, or distress someone, often creating a hostile environment. It can be physical, verbal, or psychological.
Word relationships
- intimidation: Focuses on making someone feel fearful or timid.
- molestation: Often implies sexual harassment or abuse.
- persecution: Sustained ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, or political beliefs.
- support: Providing assistance or encouragement.
- comfort: A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
Commonly confused with
- bullying: Bullying is a form of harassment, often characterized by an imbalance of power and repeated aggressive behavior. Harassment is a broader term that encompasses any unwelcome conduct that creates a hostile environment.
Word family
- harass (v): To subject to aggressive pressure or intimidation.
- harasser (n): A person who harasses.
Collocations
- sexual harassment
- workplace harassment
- online harassment
- persistent harassment
- verbal harassment
Example sentences
- "The company implemented a strict policy against workplace harassment after several complaints." Workplace issues.
- "Cyberbullying often involves persistent online harassment, causing significant emotional distress to victims." Online behavior.
- "Celebrities frequently report experiencing harassment from overzealous fans and paparazzi." Media interaction.
Memory hook
Imagine someone saying 'HA-HA! RASS-cal!' while persistently bothering you, causing harassment. HA-HA RASS-cal
When not to use
Do not use for a single, isolated incident of rudeness or disagreement. Harassment implies a pattern of behavior or a severe single act intended to intimidate or distress.
Fun facts
- Many countries have laws specifically addressing various forms of harassment, including workplace harassment and cyberharassment.
- The legal definition of harassment often requires a pattern of behavior, not just a single incident, to be actionable.
Related words
Explore more words
hound, persecution, aggression, extortion, intrusive, assault
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