as in intimidating
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
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as in browbeating
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Recent Examples of hectoring
Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
This is subtle character work that, as described on the page, might seem hectoring or prescriptive.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hectoring
Verb
-
For contractors, welcoming verification may seem intimidating at first.—
Brynn Cooksey,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Extend your stay in Portorosso with the 2021 short Ciao Alberto, which follows Alberto working for the intimidating fisherman Massimo (Marco Barricelli).—
Sydni Ellis,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Owen's best friend, Khloe Wilson, was suspected of sending the messages early in the investigation due to past tensions with Lauryn and bullying accusations.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
-
One year, two large females started bullying a much smaller male.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For more than three years, Ukrainian soldiers, conscripts and ordinary civilians have given their lives to defend their country’s borders, and Vasyanovych is speaking to Variety just days before the latest onslaught of Russian missiles on Kyiv.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The component responsible for this, the divertor, must withstand this incredible onslaught, making its design a critical engineering challenge for the viability of fusion power.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
It was postponed indefinitely due to the federal takeover threat.—
Deena Zaru,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The threats are sometimes even leveled against family members.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Marvel fans went into a frenzy.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
An extension of the Black Hole, Raider Nation gathers at this spot and turns it into a football frenzy on Sundays, or whenever the Raiders suit up.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Then around the time the revolt begins, the intertitles disappear.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Five days later, after a revolt, he was reinstated.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement What is the ‘axis of upheaval’?—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Democrats have called for Kennedy’s termination amid the CDC upheaval.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Trump was made aware of the incident on Sunday and expressed outrage in a speech on Monday.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy?—
Khaleda Rahman
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hectoring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hectoring. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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