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.
These kids will repeatedly watch their favorite shows and that makes the service more valuable for harried parents. — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2026 The confluence of those problems lead to a harried, chew-your-fingernails night for all the star players in this final season. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 Hannah is perfect as a proxy for the harried viewer—sweet, two-dimensional, as wide-eyed as a Powerpuff Girl but much less feisty. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 Leading the trip is the harried teacher Mercier (Antonia Buresi) whose desire to inspire passion in her students is clearly starting to lose its spark in her late career. — Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 21 May 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 10 Jul. 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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