harry

¹

[ har-ee ]

verb (used with object)

, har·ried, har·ry·ing.

1. to harass, agitate, or trouble by or as if by repeated attacks; beleaguer:

   He was harried by constant doubts.

   Synonyms: trouble, plague, molest

2. to ravage, as in war; devastate:

   The troops harried the countryside.

   Synonyms: pillage, rob, strip, plunder

verb (used without object)

, har·ried, har·ry·ing.

1. to make harassing incursions.

Harry

²

[ har-ee ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Harold or Henry.

harry

/ ˈhærɪ /

verb

1. tr to harass; worry
2. to ravage (a town, etc), esp in war

Word History and Origins

Origin of harry¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English herien, Old English her(g)ian (derivative of here “army”); cognate with German verheeren, Old Norse herja “to harry, lay waste”

Word History and Origins

Origin of harry¹

Old English hergian; related to here army, Old Norse herja to lay waste, Old High German heriōn

Example Sentences

Ukraine has long used domestically produced weapons, such as drones, to harry Russia with strikes that sometimes target Moscow itself.

From Los Angeles Times

Hustled and harried and looking to all the world like they were preparing to plunge ever deeper into the bottomless pit of poor results.

From BBC

Gaetz, a Trump loyalist, resigned from his House seat on Wednesday, effectively ending the ethics investigation that has harried him for years, a Republican official familiar with the matter told The New York Times.

From Salon

Abolitionists made good use of the provision to harry slave traders.

From Los Angeles Times

"Today’s young women know that neurotic isn’t cute. Cute isn’t cute. Neither is flustered, madcap, zany, flighty, flaky, harried or hapless - all adjectives that apply to Bridget."

From BBC