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hector

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of hector

a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable persons

  • law penalizing debt collection agencies that operate like hectors
Synonyms of hector

bully, bullyboy, intimidator
Words Related to hector

antagonist, enemy

abuser, baiter, giber (or jiber), harasser, harrier, heckler, mocker, needler, oppressor, persecutor, ridiculer, taunter, tease, teaser, torturer

goon, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, mug, punk, rough, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, tough, toughie (also toughy)

cutthroat, felon, gangster, gunman, mobster, racketeer

hector

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of hector

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 of hector

blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, cow, intimidate, mau-mau, strong-arm
Words Related to hector

bluster, trash-talk

affright, alarm (also alarum), frighten, horrify, scare, shock, spook, startle, terrify

menace, terrorize, threaten

badger, harass, hound

bludgeon, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, force, make, oblige, press, pressure, push around

demoralize, psych (out), unman, unnerve

discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, upset
Phrases Synonymous with hector

pick on
Near Antonyms of hector

cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe

embolden, encourage, hearten, steel

convince, persuade

Synonym Discussion of hector

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

Learn More about hector

  1. See words that rhyme with hector Dictionary: Definition of hector Nglish: Translation of hector for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hector for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hector

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