Synonyms of hound

hound 1 of 2

noun

ˈhau̇nd 

1

as in dog

a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes

in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dog
• puppy
• canine
• mutt
• pooch
• doggy
• bitch
• tyke
• pup
• mongrel
• hunter
• whelp
• cur
• wolfhound
• sheepdog
• puppy dog
• bird dog
• lapdog
• coonhound
• sled dog
• wolf dog
• gundog
• police dog
• watchdog
• guide dog
• working dog
• courser
• bandog

2

as in lover

a person with a strong and habitual liking for something

a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lover
• sucker
• fan
• enthusiast
• maniac
• fanatic
• buff
• fiend
• addict
• admirer
• freak
• fool
• devotee
• junkie
• collector
• nut
• bug
• aficionado
• supporter
• fancier
• friend
• maven
• authority
• proponent
• head
• expert
• habitué
• connoisseur
• advocate
• amateur
• champion
• groupie
• promoter
• exponent
• dilettante
• disciple
• patron
• follower
• votary
• adherent
• evangelist
• partisan
• convert
• apostle
• zealot
• backer
• cultist
• booster
• hanger-on
• faddist
• rooter
• well-wisher

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• critic
• nonfan
• detractor
• carper
• belittler
• nonadmirer

3

as in villain

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person

a no-good sneaky hound who disappeared with the lottery winnings he was supposed to share

Synonyms & Similar Words

• villain
• brute
• monster
• savage
• devil
• beast
• criminal
• offender
• wretch
• bandit
• scoundrel
• fiend
• rogue
• rascal
• thug
• knave
• reprobate
• assassin
• miscreant
• scamp
• varlet
• caitiff
• gangster
• scalawag
• heavy
• scapegrace
• crook
• nazi
• no-good
• loser
• evildoer
• perpetrator
• snake
• baddie
• meanie
• rapscallion
• trespasser
• blackguard
• culprit
• felon
• heel
• perp
• outlaw
• lawbreaker
• viper
• sinner
• serpent
• convict
• con
• transgressor
• ruffian
• wrongdoer
• villainess
• malefactor
• desperado
• rough
• cad
• racketeer
• tough
• hooligan
• hoodlum
• goon
• jailbird
• cutthroat
• lowlife
• stinker
• rowdy
• bravo
• gunman
• trash
• ne'er-do-well

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocent
• hero
• angel
• saint

4

as in bastard

a person whose behavior is offensive to others

nobody could stand that low-down hound and his penchant for mean-spirited pranks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dog
• bastard
• jerk
• clown
• skunk
• beast
• rat
• creep
• joker
• snake
• brute
• idiot
• heel
• swine
• reptile
• toad
• cur
• vermin
• bugger
• brat
• fool
• moron
• louse
• varmint
• pill
• villain
• blighter
• bounder
• boor
• buzzard
• scum
• stinker
• rotter
• scumbag
• nuisance
• cad
• so-and-so
• lout
• sod
• fink
• cretin
• slime
• chuff
• schmuck
• barbarian
• dirtbag
• son of a gun
• bleeder
• churl
• savage
• sleaze
• scuzzball
• crud
• slob
• sleazebag
• slimeball
• crumb
• nerd
• sleazeball
• stinkard
• wretch
• rat fink
• rogue
• scoundrel
• rascal
• caveman
• lowlife
• loudmouth
• miscreant
• scamp
• scab
• vulgarian
• imbecile
• dolt
• Neanderthal
• goon
• roughneck
• blockhead
• booby
• dope
• jackass
• snob
• turkey
• pest
• ninny
• snot
• nut
• insolent
• airhead
• doofus
• nincompoop
• dink
• nit
• nitwit
• dork
• schmo
• dweeb
• snip
• half-wit
• snoot
• birdbrain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hero
• gentleman
• lady
• heroine
• idol
• role model
• saint
• angel

hound

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to chase

to go after or on the track of

after the scandal came to light, the politician was hounded by reporters night and day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chase
• track
• pursue
• dog
• follow
• escort
• tail
• accompany
• course
• trace
• trail
• bird-dog
• run after
• tag
• run
• watch
• hunt
• shadow
• seek
• eye
• observe
• search (for)
• chaperone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lead
• guide
• pilot
• head

2

as in to dog

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

kept hounding his mother to let him drive her car until she gave in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dog
• urge
• nag
• beg
• needle
• bother
• pick at
• peck (at)
• badger
• henpeck
• annoy
• harass
• pester
• push
• plague
• egg
• insist
• bug
• carp (at)
• bait
• irk
• harry
• spur
• ride
• vex
• prompt
• goad
• fuss (about or over)
• coax
• incite
• plead
• exhort
• pressure
• cajole
• wheedle
• prod
• hassle
• chivy
• nitpick
• importune
• press
• yap (at)
• blandish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliment
• recommend
• commend
• praise
• tout
• laud
• build up
• applaud
• extol
• eulogize
• acclaim

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

Recent Examples of hound

Noun

The decision by Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s camps to wave their white flags stunned gossip hounds captivated by their blockbuster legal battle, which left no shortage of reputational casualties for both. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026

Meier adopted a lab hound mix named Buck from the Winchester SPCA and later sent him through a five-month, 1,000-hour training program in Florida. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026

Verb

The Thunder have no weak links defensively and have several guys capable of hounding Jalen Brunson and disrupting Karl-Anthony Towns’ flow. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 27 May 2026

The searches add to a growing list of legal cases that are hounding Spain's Socialists. —ABC News, 27 May 2026