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hound

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hound distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hound are badger, bait, chivy, heckle, and hector. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

When could badger be used to replace hound?

The words badger and hound can be used in similar contexts, but badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

Where would bait be a reasonable alternative to hound?

While the synonyms bait and hound are close in meaning, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

When is it sensible to use chivy instead of hound?

Although the words chivy and hound have much in common, chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

In what contexts can heckle take the place of hound?

The words heckle and hound are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

When can hector be used instead of hound?

While in some cases nearly identical to hound, hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hound
Noun
Don't worry, powder hounds and ski bunnies—there's a retirement destination here for you, too. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2025 Staff attempted to track the bear with a bear hound dog but have not yet found the animal. Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 13 July 2025
Verb
For almost a year, the sheriff has been hounded by criticism from former employees. Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025 He was seen as an outspoken critic of his own party, but was also perceived as distant from Abe’s right-wing faction, which proved advantageous given the scandals hounding that segment of the party. Chad De Guzman, Time, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hound
Noun
  • Robot explorers for the moon Because some parts are too tight or dangerous for humans to explore, the robotic dogs act as scouts, mapping and analyzing the environment.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2025
  • No one said the obvious, which was that the dog would probably be hit by another vehicle.
    Ron Arias, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Vaughan has also made his mark on primetime television, with roles such as the charming firefighter Dan Gordon on Charmed and Calvin Galston, the longtime, married lover of Nova Bordelon on Queen Sugar.
    Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The cable network recently went in search for the best spots for plant lovers in the United States — showcasing a single garden per state.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Currently, Wiig is in her villain era.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
  • With Ka-young’s help, Iblis is able to destroy the Flower of Eternal Life, which had allowed Khalid to live forever (at least until this point), and the villain fades to dust.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • San Rafael, California — Whether battling a wildfire, chasing a suspect, or helping someone with a traumatic injury – the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and others who take action in emergencies regularly endure high levels of stress.
    Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Still, council member Lamont Westmoreland wondered if the danger that technology presented would be less than the danger of chasing vehicles.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Rachel Goldberg-Polin emerged as a moral voice, urging an end to the war and healing for Israel's internal divisions.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Lisi urged people to remain vigilant.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Only a sucker would think the curtain close of the Eras Tour marked the end of Swift’s almighty reign in the pop sphere.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The team in green silenced a sea of red and white with a sucker-punch of a goal from a set-play.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • An extermination of the brutes in the Middle East, presided over by Obama’s successors, has been followed by a swift cancellation by Trumpian decree of the postracial age.
    Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Each fits into typical RPG classes — with Armon being the close combat brute, Harlow the magical crowd control specialist, Rafa the agile rogue, and Vex serving as a summoner who calls on minions to do the dirty work.
    George Yang, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Saddled with an uninteresting jerk half the time and a muzzled non-entity the other half, there’s only a handful of moments in the first six episodes where Powell’s star power shines through.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 2025
  • For a taste of the Caribbean, head to Kingston Kitchen at the Village Inn, where chef Shawn Fearon serves the flavors of his native Jamaica—oxtail, jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish, curried goat, and the best whitefish sandwich on the island.
    Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hound. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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