What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Caress vs Harass - What's the difference?

caress | harass |

As nouns the difference between caress and harass

is that caress is an act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness while harass is (obsolete) devastation; waste.

As verbs the difference between caress and harass

is that caress is to touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle while harass is to fatigue or to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts.

caress

English

Noun

(caresses)
  • An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness.
  • * Longfellow
    • Wooed her with his soft caresses .
  • * Macaulay
    • He exerted himself to win by indulgence and caresses the hearts of all who were under his command.
  • A gentle stroking or rubbing.

    • Verb

  • To touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle.
    • She loves being caressed by her boyfriend.
  • To affect as if with a caress.

    • Synonyms

    * hold * soothe * stroke * kiss

    Antonyms

    * poke * stab * strike * hit

    Anagrams

    * * * *

    harass

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To fatigue or to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or
  • To annoy endlessly or systematically; to molest.
  • * 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 23[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/23]
    • In my old home, I always knew that John and my master were my friends; but here, although in many ways I was well treated, I had no friend. York might have known, and very likely did know, how that rein harassed me; but I suppose he took it as a matter of course that could not be helped; at any rate nothing was done to relieve me.
  • To put excessive burdens upon; to subject to anxieties.
    • in the early 1940s.

    Synonyms

    * hassle * harry * chivy or chivvy * chevy or chevvy * beset * plague * molest * provoke

    Derived terms

    * harasser * harassment

    External links

    * *

    Noun

  • (obsolete) devastation; waste
    • (Milton)
  • (obsolete) worry; harassment
    • (Byron)