hound

noun

\ ˈhau̇nd

Definition of hound

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : dog

b : a dog of any of numerous hunting breeds including both scent hounds (such as the bloodhound and beagle) and sight hounds (such as the greyhound and Afghan hound)

2 : a mean or despicable person

3 : dogfish

4 : a person who pursues like a hound especially : one who avidly seeks or collects something autograph hounds

hound

verb

hounded; hounding; hounds

Definition of hound (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to pursue with or as if with hounds

2 : to drive or affect by persistent harassing

Other Words from hound Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about hound

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for hound

Synonyms: Noun

canine, dog, doggy (or doggie), pooch, tyke (also tike)

Synonyms: Verb

bird-dog, chase, course, dog, follow, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail

Antonyms: Verb

guide, lead, pilot

Choose the Right Synonym for hound

Verb

bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim. baited the chained dog badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy. badgered her father for a car heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker. drunks heckled the stand-up comic hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering. football players hectored by their coach chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging. chivied the new student mercilessly hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing. hounded by creditors

Examples of hound in a Sentence

Noun

in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive

Verb

He is being hounded by the press. They hounded me with questions. They hounded me for my autograph. hound a politician out of office

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The upper-class Jaguar has the prestige of an 83-year British heritage, long a status symbol for the horse-and-hound set. — Hannah Elliott, latimes.com, "Jaguar roars into the new golden era for station wagons," 24 Mar. 2018 There were nine keen hound faces in the Cirneco dell’Etna ring, though the rabbit-hunting breed is the seventh-rarest in the U.S. and debuted at Westminster only in 2016. — Jennifer Peltz, The Seattle Times, "A breed apart: Rare Westminster dogs have ring to themselves," 13 Feb. 2019 For happiness here was pursued by the hounds of living hell; the American dream was so close to the nightmare. — Terry Teachout, WSJ, "How the Movies Invented Christmas," 20 Dec. 2018 And just like the dapper detective, fashion hounds have been sniffing out clues at every possible opportunity. — Laura King, latimes.com, "So that's what you call them," 19 May 2018 Colombian police recently revealed that the Gulf Clan, a cartel that boasts its own guerrilla army, has offered a reward of $7,000 to whoever kills or captures the savvy hound. — Manuel Rueda, Fox News, "Extraordinary drug dog worries Colombian cartel," 27 July 2018 Bella also kept things low-key in black-and-white hounds-tooth pants, a black henley, and a red version of the celebratory accessory. — Zoë Weiner, Teen Vogue, "Kendall Jenner Wore a Tiny Paper Hat for Her 23rd Birthday," 5 Nov. 2018 A few months ago, the tenacious hound also sniffed out 77 kilos of cocaine placed deep inside an industrial machine. — Manuel Rueda, Fox News, "Extraordinary drug dog worries Colombian cartel," 27 July 2018 Washington voters approved two initiatives in 1996 and 2000, which together banned the use of bait, hounds and body-gripping traps to kill bears. — Phuong Le, The Seattle Times, "Group sues Washington Fish and Wildlife over bear killings," 2 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

To try to raise productivity, retailers are turning mainly to technology rather that hounding employees to work harder. — Christopher Rugaber, The Seattle Times, "U.S. retailers hope higher pay will buy more efficient workers," 1 Jan. 2019 On the following green flag, Preece began to hound the back bumper of Bonsignore's No. — Staff Report, courant.com, "Ryan Preece Takes Whelen Victory In Virginia," 24 June 2018 All the while, his hounding defense on Lillard and McCollum has been the difference in the series. — Joe Freeman, OregonLive.com, "Trail Blazers' mindset morphs from favorite to desperate after Game 2 defeat to Pelicans," 18 Apr. 2018 Meghan Markle’s half-sister said their father sold pictures of himself to the media because he was being hounded by the paparazzi in the run-up to his daughter’s royal wedding. — Jennifer Calfas, Time, "Meghan Markle's Half-Sister Says Her Father Sold Photos to the Paparazzi Because He Was Being Hounded," 15 May 2018 During an earlier authoritarian era, Congress in 1882 passed a law forbidding immigrants from China to enter the United States and hounding thousands of those already here to leave. — Christopher Knight, latimes.com, "'Border Door' provided a poetic welcome to immigrants 30 years ago. An art show brings back its message," 4 May 2018 Letting Winslow hound the rookie seems to be Miami’s best option. — Rohan Nadkarni, SI.com, "The Heat, Sixers and a Series of NBA Playoff Outliers," 19 Apr. 2018 Thomas would hound Young into lots of inefficient shots, and his length also would enable him to match up with several other players on Dan’s team. — The Si Staff, SI.com, "SI’s 2018 College Basketball All-Star Team Rosters," 16 Feb. 2018 And at least in Ischia, unlike at home, Elena isn’t hounded and undermined by her mother or threatened by the Marcello brothers. — Constance Grady, Vox, "My Brilliant Friend offers Elena an escape — then yanks it away," 9 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hound.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.