harassing
Giving no peace
Harassing describes behavior that persistently annoys, threatens, or intimidates someone.
The word emphasizes repeated unwanted contact rather than a single incident: harassing phone calls, harassing behavior in the workplace.
Legal contexts distinguish harassment from isolated rudeness—the pattern matters.
Someone who keeps bothering you despite being told to stop is harassing you.
Persistent unwanted attention
- badgeringPersistent harassment or nagging
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- houndingPersistently pursuing or pressuring
- botheringCausing irritation repeatedly
annoying · intruding · prying · invading · encroaching · meddling · interfering · interrupting
Insulting to provoke
- mockingScornfully imitating or ridiculing
- ridiculingMocking with contempt
- insultingShowing contempt through words
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
degrading · name-calling · jeering · heckling · deriding · disparaging · belittling · demeaning
Expressing intent to harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- terrorizingInstilling extreme fear
- frighteningInspiring terror or alarm
browbeating · coercing · pressuring · domineering · overpowering · strong-arming · tyrannizing · oppressing
Collective harassment behavior
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- discriminatingShowing careful judgment
- retaliatingAnswering harm with harm
scapegoating · ostracizing · sabotaging · undermining · marginalizing · gaslighting · micromanaging · nitpicking
Continuing without pause
- incessantNever pausing or stopping
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- doggedStubbornly persevering
- continuousWithout pause or gap
repeated · constant · sustained · unceasing · persistent · recurring · ongoing · systematic
Causing anguish or worry
- traumatizingCausing psychological harm
- upsettingCausing emotional turmoil
- alarmingProvoking fear or anxiety
- frighteningInspiring terror or alarm
unnerving · rattling · unsettling · destabilizing · exhausting · draining · overwhelming · stressful
pestering
Persistent unwanted attention
- badgeringPersistent harassment or nagging
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- houndingPersistently pursuing or pressuring
bothering · annoying · intruding · prying · invading · encroaching · meddling · interfering · interrupting · bombarding
taunting
Insulting to provoke
- mockingScornfully imitating or ridiculing
- ridiculingMocking with contempt
- insultingShowing contempt through words
berating · degrading · name-calling · jeering · heckling · deriding · disparaging · belittling · demeaning · humiliating
threatening
Expressing intent to harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- terrorizingInstilling extreme fear
frightening · browbeating · coercing · pressuring · domineering · overpowering · strong-arming · tyrannizing · oppressing · tormenting
mobbing
Collective harassment behavior
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- discriminatingShowing careful judgment
retaliating · scapegoating · ostracizing · sabotaging · undermining · marginalizing · gaslighting · micromanaging · nitpicking · belittling
relentless
Continuing without pause
- incessantNever pausing or stopping
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- doggedStubbornly persevering
continuous · repeated · constant · sustained · unceasing · persistent · recurring · ongoing · systematic · prolonged
distressing
Causing anguish or worry
- traumatizingCausing psychological harm
- upsettingCausing emotional turmoil
- alarmingProvoking fear or anxiety
frightening · unnerving · rattling · unsettling · destabilizing · exhausting · draining · overwhelming · stressful · demoralizing
- hostile behaviorsattacking, bullying, fighting, hitting, insulting
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
- mistreatmentbullying, intimidating, oppressing, humiliating, degrading
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
- persuadingpersuading, convincing, urging, coaxing, influencing
harassingcomforting
Giving emotional ease
soothing · consoling · nurturing · supporting · calming
harassingignoring
Deliberately not noticing
leaving alone · respecting · avoiding · disregarding · giving space
harassingsoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
calming · comforting · reassuring · pacifying · settling
harass, harassment, harassed, harasser, harasses, harassers, harrier, harrying, sexual harassment