harassment
huh-RAS-muhnt
Harassment (noun) means Repeated unwanted behavior intended to disturb, intimidate, or upset someone. Example: “Pupils who experience harassment online should tell a teacher or a parent.”
noun
1
Repeated unwanted behavior intended to disturb, intimidate, or upset someone.
"Pupils who experience harassment online should tell a teacher or a parent."
"The company was sued for failing to act on harassment complaints."
"Workplace harassment can take many forms, from comments to physical threats."
How to use harassment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOngoing unwanted, intimidating, or distressing behavior directed at someone.
Common pairings
sexual harassment
workplace harassment
harassment complaint
file a harassment claim
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Word forms
- Plural
- harassments
Fill the gap
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Pupils who experience _____ online should tell a teacher or a parent.
Etymology
From French harassement, built from harass plus -ment.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for harassment
See all rhymes for harassment →Frequently asked questions
What does “harassment” mean?
The word “harassment” means repeated unwanted behavior intended to disturb, intimidate, or upset someone. In plain terms, ongoing unwanted, intimidating, or distressing behavior directed at someone.
How do you pronounce “harassment”?
“Harassment” is pronounced huh-RAS-muhnt (/həˈɹæs.mənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “harassment” in a sentence?
Here is “harassment” used in a sentence: “The company was sued for failing to act on harassment complaints.”
What is another word for “harassment”?
Words with a similar meaning to “harassment” include torment.
What part of speech is “harassment”?
“Harassment” is a noun.
Where does the word “harassment” come from?
The word “harassment” comes from French. From French harassement, built from harass plus -ment.
Is “harassment” a common word?
“Harassment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between harassment and bullying?
Harassment is repeated unwanted behavior intended to disturb, intimidate, or upset someone, and it is the term most often used in formal complaints and law. Bullying describes a similar pattern of deliberate mistreatment, discussed especially in schools and workplaces and often involving a power imbalance between the people involved.
How do you spell harassment — one R or two?
The correct spelling is harassment: one r and a double s, from the verb harass plus -ment. The frequent misspelling "harrassment," with two r's, is not a standard form.
What is the difference between harassment and discrimination?
Harassment is repeated unwanted conduct aimed at disturbing, intimidating, or upsetting a person. Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of a characteristic such as age, sex, or background; the two can occur together, but discrimination concerns unequal treatment rather than the repeated behavior itself.
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