hector 1 of 2

hector

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hector distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hector are badger, bait, chivy, heckle, and hound. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

Where would badger be a reasonable alternative to hector?

The synonyms badger and hector are sometimes interchangeable, but badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

When is it sensible to use bait instead of hector?

Although the words bait and hector have much in common, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

When could chivy be used to replace hector?

While the synonyms chivy and hector are close in meaning, chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

When is heckle a more appropriate choice than hector?

The words heckle and hector can be used in similar contexts, but heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

When would hound be a good substitute for hector?

The words hound and hector are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hector
Noun
THE young woman with the microphone cajoles, hectors and wheedles customers with the breathless enthusiasm of a livestock auctioneer at a county fair. The Economist, 18 July 2017 Like Chaffetz, the South Carolina congressman used his position in the House to investigate and hector Hillary Clinton throughout her time as a presidential candidate. OregonLive.com, 30 June 2017
Verb
President Donald Trump, who nominated Waller as a governor during his first term in office, has been hectoring the Fed to lower interest rates to reduce borrowing costs on the $36 trillion national debt. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 20 June 2025 No, Tim Walz and JB Pritzker and Kathy Hochul were invited to Washington to be props to be hectored by Chairman James Comer and his allies. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hector
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hector
Noun
  • At the slightest provocation, Ye bullies, hectors, and screams at everyone from Paris fashion-show lackeys to the mother of his child.
    Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Chewy did like them; but her clothes ended up being targeted by bullies at school.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Alarr’s unwelcome physical touching made Plaintiff feel offended, uncomfortable, humiliated and intimidated.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Don’t let the size of this plant intimidate you.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This small interceptor drone is specifically designed to ram into enemy drones mid-air.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The final season will explore Shaka’s enemies trying to undermine his rule and the arrival of Francis Fynn and British colonizers.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Like the Earth sign, the righteous dog detective Scooby doesn't appreciate confrontation and gets frightened in scary situations.
    Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Lina sniffs, stamps her feet in the snow to make her own set of giant prints to frighten this creature.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • All the while, Sarah is being hunted by corporate intimidators Dawson (Sam Worthington) and Rosetti (Willa Fitzgerald), who want to ensure her silence.
    EW.com, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hector. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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