harried
C1Formal to neutral. More common in written English (news, reports, descriptive prose) than casual speech.
Definition
Meaning
Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or constantly bothered; looking or acting in a rushed and worried manner due to excessive demands.
Can describe individuals, groups, or organizations under prolonged strain, often implying visible signs of weariness, irritability, or diminished effectiveness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries connotations of being *pursued* by responsibilities (from its root 'harry' meaning to raid or persecute). Implies an external source of pressure. Not typically used for short-term, acute stress (like 'stressed' before an exam).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. Slightly higher frequency in British journalism to describe public figures or services under pressure.
Connotations
In both, implies sympathy for the subject's plight. In political contexts, can subtly critique the sources of pressure.
Frequency
Low-frequency in both dialects, but perfectly understood.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be/look/feel/seem/appear + harried[Subject] + be + harried + by + [Source of pressure]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly with 'harried'. Related concept: 'run ragged', 'at the end of one's tether']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes managers or teams under constant deadlines and scrutiny.
Academic
Used in sociology/psychology to describe groups under socio-economic strain.
Everyday
Most often used to describe parents or caregivers juggling multiple tasks.
Technical
Not typically a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager was harried by constant emails from head office.
- Protesters harried the minister throughout her tour.
American English
- Small claims harried the large corporation for months.
- Reporters harried the CEO with questions about the merger.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The harried mother finally got the children to school.
- He looked harried after his long meeting.
- Harried by creditors, the small business was forced to close.
- The harried expression on the teacher's face told its own story.
- The minister, harried by the opposition and the press, announced a review of the policy.
- A decade of harried existence in the city had taken its toll on her health.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HARE (rabbit) being chased by hounds—it's hurried and HARRIED.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A PURSUIT / PRESSURE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (being pressed, pursued, or hunted).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'harassed' in a specifically sexual context. 'Harried' is broader. Avoid direct translation from Russian words for 'tired' (усталый) or 'nervous' (нервный); 'harried' includes an external agent.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for inanimate objects ('The harried computer crashed').* Incorrect. | Using it for brief stress. | Misspelling as 'harried' (double 'r').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'harried' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a C1-level word. It's precise and descriptive but not used in everyday casual conversation as often as 'stressed' or 'busy'.
Rarely. It primarily describes people or their appearance/manner. You might say 'a harried office' metonymically, meaning the people in it are harried.
'Harassed' is stronger, often implying systematic persecution or pestering, and can have legal/sexual connotations. 'Harried' is more about the resulting state of being stressed and rushed, often from multiple minor pressures.
Yes, 'harriedness', but it's very rare. The state is usually described with the adjective or phrases like 'a sense of being harried'.