harry

Definition of harrynext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb harry contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of harry are annoy, harass, pester, plague, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When can annoy be used instead of harry?

The words annoy and harry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

Where would harass be a reasonable alternative to harry?

While the synonyms harass and harry are close in meaning, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When might pester be a better fit than harry?

The words pester and harry can be used in similar contexts, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When would plague be a good substitute for harry?

The synonyms plague and harry are sometimes interchangeable, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use tease instead of harry?

While in some cases nearly identical to harry, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

In what contexts can worry take the place of harry?

The meanings of worry and harry largely overlap; however, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harry For newbies: Orphaned after the death of their parents, 6-year-old Lilo (Maia Kealoha), ostracized at school, is being raised by her devoted but harried teenage sister Nani (Sydney Agudong), nearing the age of adult guardianship. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025 These broken objects, and others like them, feed into my general sense of being harried, overburdened, and middle-aged. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 6 May 2025 Bullets, bombs and electronic warfare harry both man and machine. Colin Demarest, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025 Here’s how the individual snaps were divided: Quarterback: Brock Purdy 59, Joshua Dobbs 5 One of the pregame storylines was how harried Purdy might be behind a makeshift offensive line. Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for harry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harry
Verb
  • Hiring Liam Rosenior, sacked on Wednesday after just 107 days in charge, was a big error of judgement.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • John Franklin-Myers, who loved talking, sacking and eating Uncrustables, left as a free agent to the Titans.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Supporters say Assembly Bill 2624, introduced by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, a Bay Area Democrat, aims to protect employees and volunteers at immigration support services facilities from being doxxed or harassed.
    Linh Tat, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • As a whole, Minnesota’s lengthy, harassing defense is causing Denver issues.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Kyiv has long accused Russia of plundering these regions' resources.
    Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Five years after the Halifax Resolves were adopted, the British army briefly occupied the town and plundered its homes, according to the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites and Properties.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • McMahon likes to remind scolds that wrestling is a morality play.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Leon scolded Justice Department attorneys for arguing that the entire project needed to go forward for national security reasons, before previously distinguishing between the bunker below ground and the ballroom above ground.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As with Osterweil, who argued that white supremacy can render even violent looting a legitimate act, Piker and Tolentino suggest that certain crimes become not just morally justifiable but even admirable when coupled with a claim against structural injustice.
    Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The 2025 Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, or HEAR Act, expands on a 2016 law, signed by President Barack Obama, that permits victims and descendants of victims of the Holocaust to lay legal claim to works of art looted by the Nazis or sold to the Nazis under false pretenses.
    Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Chronic disease programs, in particular, have been savaged, whether those programs have been focused on oral health or tobacco control, to name a few.
    Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
  • We’ve been dealt a nigh-unbearable hand when two of our communities were utterly savaged by fire.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Thankfully, the Dark Sky movement is growing as more people become aware of the issue and learn about simple and cost-effective ways that can be embraced to reverse the course of destroying our night skies.
    Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Radioactive clouds spread, causing panic as far away as Germany and Britain; millions of litres of milk were dumped; livestock was destroyed or banned from sale.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the docuseries, Hogan appears at peace with the fact he is beloved by some and reviled by others after his post-career downfall.
    Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Monica was humiliated, reviled, then merely defined by her missteps.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Harry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harry. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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