• Today's Word

Harried

HAIR-eed

Definition

(adjective) Feeling strained as a result of persistent demands or stress.

Example

The harried assistant juggled calls, emails, and last-minute meetings.

Harried stems from the same root as harass—both come from old Norse and Middle English words related to raiding or attacking. Originally used in military contexts, harried now refers to a psychological onslaught: the kind of pressure that comes from emails piling up, kids yelling, and zero time for yourself. It’s the perfect word for a Monday at 4:59 p.m.