hassling

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'hassling' is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to annoy, bother, or pester someone, usually persistently. It is a verb form of the noun 'hassle'. Example: The new employee complained to HR about his boss constantly hassling him with unreasonable demands.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Policing is the thing and the police here are always hassling certain people on this estate for no reason," claimed one young man.

The Guardian

Near the entrances, young African men stand around hassling bystanders, asking if they want to buy some "kiffen".

The Economist

It is only good at hassling market women and stealing .Amid economic and political crisis in 1991, the army turned on the cities, taking by violence the goods left unstolen after the leaders' years of taking by stealth.

The Economist

In a well-run airport the taxi drivers wait outside in an orderly queue, rather than hassling the passengers.While I am waiting for the train (which is late, over-heated and slow) I google the number for Budapest airport public relations office.

The Economist

Part of the LAPD's difficulties stem from its long history of hassling young blacks and Latinos.But the problem that eventually undid Mr Bratton in New York will not trouble him in LA.

The Economist

The security services have a better record of engaging in business disputes and hassling Kremlin opponents than of infiltrating terrorist networks to stop attacks.

The Economist

The abandoned mother of another child was hassling him.

The Economist

As it happens, few Americans seem to enjoy hassling their compatriots to pay credit-card debts or hospital bills they cannot afford.

The Economist

Research by Jamil Jonna of the University of Oregon (originally for a book, "The Death and Life of American Journalism", but since updated) found that as newsrooms have been slimmed and PR agencies have grown fatter, for each American journalist there are now, on average, six flacks hassling him to run crummy stories (see chart).There are few new tricks in public relations.

The Economist

He had just left a club with his girlfriend, where she had been celebrating her 21st birthday, when a car full of lads started hassling her.

Independent

A fired-up Ajax, roared on by their vocal fans, took the game to an injury-hit Barca in the first half, harrying and hassling them before taking a deserved 2-0 lead with goals from Thulani Serero and Danny Hoesen.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone is being bothered repeatedly, consider using "hassling" to convey the sense of ongoing annoyance. For instance, instead of saying "The reporters kept asking questions", you could say "The reporters were constantly hassling him for answers".

Common error

While "hassling" is widely understood, it can sound informal. In professional or academic writing, opt for words like "harassing", "pestering", or "persistently questioning" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hassling" is that of a present participle or gerund, functioning as a verb within a continuous tense or as a noun, describing the act of annoying or bothering someone. Ludwig confirms this based on its usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hassling" functions as a verb describing the act of repeatedly annoying or bothering someone. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and sees very common usage, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it can be perceived as informal in certain contexts, where more formal alternatives like "harassing" or "pestering" might be more appropriate. The prevalence of its usage in authoritative sources such as The Guardian and The New York Times underscores its broad understanding and acceptance. When aiming for clear and precise communication, consider the context and audience when using the term "hassling".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harassing

Similar in meaning, but often implies a more severe and persistent form of annoyance or aggression.

pestering

Focuses on repeated requests or questions that become irritating.

badgering

Emphasizes persistent nagging or attempts to persuade someone.

annoying

A more general term for causing irritation or displeasure.

bothering

Similar to annoying, but can also imply a disruption of someone's peace or activity.

teasing

Implies playful or mischievous annoyance.

tormenting

Suggests a more intense and malicious form of harassment.

dogging

Implies persistent following or pursuit, often to an annoying degree.

bullying

Suggests intimidation and coercion, often involving a power imbalance.

chivvying

Describes urging or prompting someone persistently, sometimes to the point of annoyance.

FAQs

How can I use "hassling" in a sentence?

You can use "hassling" to describe someone being persistently annoyed or bothered, as in "The paparazzi were always "hassling" the celebrity for photos".

What's a less informal way to say "hassling"?

Depending on the context, you could use "harassing", "pestering", or "importuning" as more formal alternatives to "hassling".

Is "hassling" the same as "harassing"?

While similar, "harassing" often implies a more serious and potentially illegal form of unwanted attention or aggression, whereas "hassling" can refer to milder forms of annoyance.

What are some synonyms for "hassling"?

Some synonyms for "hassling" include "pestering", "badgering", "annoying", and "bothering", each with slightly different connotations.