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
OregonLive.com, 30 June 2017
And Remy places McCarthy on Baldwin’s subcommittee when in fact the Wisconsin senator never actually served as a member but instead had received, as a courtesy, permission from Baldwin to attend the subcommittee’s hearings (which McCarthy then exploited to harass and hector witnesses).
—Lawrence Douglas, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2017
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Vance’s hectoring message to Europe in February on his first trip abroad landed like a lead balloon with American allies.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hector
Noun
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
And Remy places McCarthy on Baldwin’s subcommittee when in fact the Wisconsin senator never actually served as a member but instead had received, as a courtesy, permission from Baldwin to attend the subcommittee’s hearings (which McCarthy then exploited to harass and hector witnesses).
—Lawrence Douglas, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2017
Verb
Douglas McCarthy, the vocalist who hectored anarchic invective with EBM innovators Nitzer Ebb and who joined Depeche Mode keyboardist Alan Wilder’s Recoil side project, died Wednesday at the age of 58.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Vance’s hectoring message to Europe in February on his first trip abroad landed like a lead balloon with American allies.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hector
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hector
Noun
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Along the way, the Lions had become the bully of the division, winning back-to-back divisional titles.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Sooners presented a blueprint to slow the Big Ten bully.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Assaults by the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club are often committed in order to protect and expand territory, intimidate rivals, conceal members from law enforcement and advance extracurricular criminal projects, according to the 2024 indictment.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, the President can use the National Guard to intimidate blue-state citizens, and no one can stop him; a mogul can shield billions in income from tax; and voters can find their districts redrawn overnight.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Under orders from General Erinmore (Colin Firth), the pair must traverse enemy lines to deliver a life-or-death message to Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch), halting an attack that would endanger more than 1,000 men.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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The enemy terrorizes and kills our people across the country every day.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Judy Hernandez’ husband Raul, a co-founder of the community group the Resurrection Project, dismissed those plans as a political stunt geared to create fear and frighten Spanish-speaking people.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Many of us are conditioned to think that our ultimate goal in life is to be with someone, so much so, that the mere thought of being alone frightens us.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 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
Cite this Entry
“Hector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hector. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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