Definition of

Harass

Harass

Harassing means annoying or attacking someone insistently.

The verb to harass , derived from the Latin word fustigāre , is used to refer to the action that consists of hitting with some type of instrument to disperse, pile up or move. It is possible to harass with a whip, a riding crop, a whip or another element.

Nowadays, anyway, the idea of ​​bullying is usually linked to attacking or bothering someone insistently . Whoever harasses, therefore, harasses, persecutes or harasses his victim . For example: "A young man was arrested for harassing the son of a famous singer on social media" , "The factory owner used to harass foreign workers" , "The government should not harass businessmen, but help them grow." » .

Harassing, in short, is offensive behavior . The harasser generally intends to annoy or disturb another person, who feels threatened or shocked by the behavior.

Various ways to harass

It is possible to recognize different types of harassment. Sexual harassment occurs when someone makes proposals or advances of a sexual nature that generate pressure or discomfort in the recipient. When an employer takes advantage of his power to insistently invite an employee who refuses to accept to dinner and participate in extra-work activities, he is doing nothing other than harassing him, and this should in any case be reported and brought before the law.

Religious harassment , meanwhile, consists of making an individual uncomfortable because of their beliefs. A coach who mocks a player's faith and religious rituals in front of all his teammates is engaging in harassment.

It is important to keep in mind that, depending on the characteristics and context, harassment can become a crime . Workplace harassment, to cite one case, is punishable by prison in some countries.

Distress

The act of bullying can cause great harm to the victim.

Synonyms

To understand this term in greater depth, we can use the various synonyms that dictionaries offer us. Among the extensive list of words that we can use to replace the verb to harass when it has a connotation of physical harm , we highlight the following: whip, whip, whip and punish .

On the other hand, there are the various synonyms that serve to replace the verb to harass in its symbolic meanings, such as those mentioned in some of the previous paragraphs, such as the example of workplace harassment and teasing of a soccer player for religious reasons. Let's see, therefore, another list of synonyms for this term: besiege, harass, pursue, annoy, annoy, besiege, attack, prick and harass .

Harass, an action that causes damage

In short, harassing a person is not only an act of injustice but can cause serious problems on various levels. Receiving this type of treatment can lead us to feel ashamed of ourselves, afraid to go out or meet other people, especially when the victim is a child or adolescent. Humiliation during these critical ages for personality development can leave marks that cannot be erased, pain that does not heal, and a tendency toward loneliness that conditions the rest of your life.

In the school environment, a "bully" can harass one of his classmates using different tactics, such as physically attacking him, stealing his belongings systematically and without fear of him knowing it, inventing different nicknames that serve to make fun of his physical defects. or his personality, and even threatening him with serious revenge if he dares to accuse him of the authorities .

One of the most powerful ingredients in this twisted recipe for nullifying a person is public humiliation: all these violent practices have a much more powerful effect if they are carried out in front of other individuals, especially if they do not intervene to help the person. victim .