French word

acharner

Pronunciation

IPA/aʃaʁne/

Meaning

  • verbhound

Example

Elle s'acharne sur son collègue.

She keeps hounding her colleague.

Illustration for acharner (hound)

More examples

Il s'acharne à finir ce projet malgré les critiques.

He is persistently trying to finish this project despite the criticism.

Core concept

Repeated pressure stays fixed on one target until the attacker or pursuer finally stops.

Common phrases

  • s'acharner sur

    hound

  • s'acharner à

    persist stubbornly in ___

  • s'acharner contre

    attack relentlessly

Similar words

harceler: To repeatedly harass someone and cause them distress or inconvenience.
attaquer: To directly attack someone through words or actions.
persécuter: To severely torment a person or group over a long period.
importuner: To annoy someone by intruding on their time or peace.

Definition in French

Agir avec une insistance forte et répétée ; s'acharner sur quelqu'un signifie attaquer ou critiquer cette personne de façon persistante, et s'acharner à + infinitif indique une obstination pour atteindre un but.

Word origin

Acharner is linked to Old French acharner and to char, 'flesh'; its older use for setting dogs on prey helps explain the modern idea of relentless pursuit.

Usage tips

  • For determined effort toward a goal, French uses s'acharner à plus an infinitive, while s'acharner sur usually concerns a person or object under attack.

Other meanings

  • persistverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word