harried

adjective

har·​ried ˈher-ēd How to pronounce harried (audio)
ˈha-rēd
Synonyms of harried
: beset by problems : harassed
a harried waiter who forgets your order

Examples of harried in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The audio of the emergency towing call captures a harried, often confusing scene and not everything in the recording is audible or makes sense. — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 The assignment’s seen as an intrusion into their harried lives. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 July 2026 The light provides a kind of neutrality, washing me from a monster back into a mother in a flash—just another harried woman who is running a little late. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 Dinners are interrupted whenever a harried entrepreneur receives that ping that signifies there is a critical, must-address emergency happening on their phone. — Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for harried

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of harry

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of harried was in 1609

Rhymes for harried

See All Rhymes for harried

Browse Nearby Words

harridan
harried
harrier
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harried.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harried. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on harried

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for harried

Nglish: Translation of harried for Spanish Speakers

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