as in bully
a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable persons
law penalizing debt collection agencies that operate like hectors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to intimidate
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
the judge warned the attorney that hectoring the witness with aggressive questioning would not be allowed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hector
Donald Frazier, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2017
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
Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 Nov. 2025
In a subplot that Burch and Jones leave daringly unresolved, at least in conventional terms, Ed withstands hectoring calls from his sister about their dying brother.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hector
Noun
Mr. Liggett sometimes used his art to hector neighbors in a score of grievances.
—Donald Frazier, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2017
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
Verb
Nawat, the Thai national director, hectored Bosch for not following the promotional activities guidelines in a livestreamed sashing ceremony on Nov. 4 and called security when the Mexican delegate stood up for herself.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 Nov. 2025
In a subplot that Burch and Jones leave daringly unresolved, at least in conventional terms, Ed withstands hectoring calls from his sister about their dying brother.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hector
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hector
Noun
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Not only was Rachel murdered, but so were Helen (Poppy Liu) and Zoe (Marin Ireland), the other bullies in Anna's group.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
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Additionally, in February 2024, owning an XL bully without an exemption certificate was criminalized, per the BBC.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ryan Thornton, 37, of Racine, was initially charged in October in Dane County with stalking and misdemeanor counts of intimidating a victim and disorderly conduct.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet, and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Michael Malone, during his Nuggets days, was a genius at creating enemies, of underlining slights that may or may not have ever been real.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Hurt by Israel’s large-scale infiltration and strikes last year, Iran’s regime moved swiftly to brand those demanding change as enemies of the state.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Secretary of State called the event an attempt to frighten public servants.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
Cite this Entry
“Hector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hector. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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