Skip to main content
to hassle

to hassle

47 4.4
To bother someone again and again
  • verb
  • /ˈhæsl/
translation icon : molestar
  • The kids kept hassling their neighbor until she agreed to let them play in her yard.
  • hassle someone
  • stop hassling
  • keep hassling

You know, you get hassled by people, hassled by police, but overall, it's not terrible.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • "All I'm saying is don't hassle me," I told him.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Kimberly frowned and said, "It's just that everyone keeps hassling me about eating."

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I get paid to hassle people.

  • You always hassle girls on the street?

  • You enjoy hassling people, man?

  • Then you can pass and hang out without them hassling you all the time.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I was walking home with a few of my friends, and the guy started hassling me.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • As fun as it is wasting half my day while some cop hassles me, I'll pass.

    Blog text (3)
  • David knew his grandmother drank too much, but he didn't hassle her about it.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Stop hassling me! I just want to finish my work in peace.

Synonyms

to bother me
vsto hassle
449 2.0

To disturb or interrupt someone and make them feel annoyed

is similar but is used for general repeated bothering rather than interruption
to harass
vsto hassle
302 4.0

Annoy someone again and again to make them feel worried or uncomfortable

is similar but focuses on repeated annoyance without stressing worry
to provoke
vsto hassle
144 3.6

Annoy someone again and again to make them react

is similar but does not necessarily imply provoking a response
to plague
vsto hassle
121 5.6

To cause constant trouble and suffering to people and things

is like this but usually lighter, not as serious or harmful
to bug
vsto hassle
  • Informal
85 3.7

To annoy someone by bothering them repeatedly

is similar but covers both minor and more general repeated trouble
to badger
vsto hassle
39 4.7

To annoy someone by asking them the same thing many times

covers repeated annoyance more generally without emphasising pressure tactics
to pester
vsto hassle
34 3.2

To annoy someone by asking for things again and again

focuses on repeated trouble generally, not specifically on requests or interruptions
to beset
vsto hassle
15 7.9

To surround and cause repeated problems for someone or something

is narrower, referring to repeated annoyance without the surrounding attack idea
to molest
vsto hassle
  • Offensive
12 8.4

Annoy or disturb someone repeatedly

is broader and can mean simple repeated annoyance rather than serious harm
to harry
vsto hassle
3 7.6

To bother someone again and again so they feel upset or tired

is similar but can be milder and less aggressive in tone
to bedevil
vsto hassle
2 8.2

Cause ongoing trouble and confusion for people or things

focuses more on repeated annoyance of a person rather than general trouble
to nudzh
vsto hassle
  • Informal
9.9

To keep asking or complaining to make someone do something

is the wider term for repeated annoyance without stressing nagging
to chivy
vsto hassle
  • UK
9.9

To annoy someone by asking or reminding them again and again

is broader, not necessarily teasing but any persistent trouble
to chevy
vsto hassle
  • Archaic
9.9

To annoy or chase someone again and again

keeps the repeated annoyance idea but not the chasing element
to devil
vsto hassle
  • UK
8.3

To annoy someone again and again with small problems

is broader and may include larger or more direct forms of trouble

Antonyms

962 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

216 1.0

To make someone happy or satisfied

Idioms

what a hassle
  • Informal
1 8.4

An expression of annoyance about something difficult to do

How Annoying

to torment
  • NSFW
107 7.2
to harass
302 4.0
to hassle
47 4.4
to pester
34 3.2
to bother
1.0
to annoy
246 1.0

Surface Forms

hassle infinitive
hassled past
hassled past participle
hassling present participle
hassles third person singular

Etymology

Hassle as a verb comes from the same slang and means to annoy or trouble someone, often again and again. Think of hassle like harass ('to bother')—that's why to hassle someone is to keep troubling or annoying them.