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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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hectoring
Verb
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Relapse is alluring, Bart is intimidating, and Son is mysterious.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025 -
While the market’s recent volatility can be intimidating, experts generally recommend investors focus on their long-term goals.—
Ana Teresa Solá,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Instead, there was a fast, tough, physical team flying around and making big-time plays, bullying the big-boy Tar Heels.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
30 Dec. 2024
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LeBron James scored 32 points one game after setting the NBA’s all-time minutes record for regular-season games, bullying the Kings on the offensive end while grabbing four steals on the defensive end.—
Dan Woike,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Dec. 2024
Noun
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While other governments rushed to make concessions in the face of Trump’s tariff onslaught, India has remained defiant.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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University of Virginia President James E. Ryan resigned in June under pressure from the Justice Department over the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices, reflecting how the government’s premise of combating antisemitism has turned into a broader onslaught.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The move was followed by Trump’s threats to expand his law enforcement push to other cities led by Democrats, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Baltimore, and Oakland.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Aug. 2025
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Many of our public health systems today are reactive, underfunded, and siloed—built for a world with linear threats and a stable climate.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But, in the frenzy to get ready, don’t forget about the hospital bag essentials that’ll make your delivery experience (hopefully) a little easier.—
Sara Coughlin,
SELF,
12 Aug. 2025
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Both the New Heights podcast and Taylor Nation hinted at the announcement with cryptic social media posts on Monday morning, sending fans into an investigative frenzy.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Still, the Jews chafed under Roman rule and finally rebelled in 66 CE, a revolt which invited the wrath of the Roman legions led by future emperors Vespasian and his son Titus.—
Jacob Jones,
JSTOR Daily,
13 Aug. 2025
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Five days later, after a revolt, he was reinstated.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Constant procedural upheaval and backlogs are poison.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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King took over in June as the district was confronting a $734 million budget crisis in the wake of leadership upheaval.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States were among countries to express outrage, and Israel's foreign ministry announced that the U.N. Security Council will hold a special session Aug. 5 on the hostages in Gaza.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
4 Aug. 2025
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This, and the revisions to May and June's data—which the agency said resulted from subsequent reports from businesses and government agencies—prompted outrage from the president.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hectoring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hectoring. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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