hound 1 of 2

Definition of houndnext
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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

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
With two working parents, an…explorative…toddler, and a vocal hound dog, our house is nothing short of chaos on weeknights. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026 The Pats aren’t waiting until third down to unleash hounds, either. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
After being hounded by paparazzi for their entire courtship, the duo managed to pull off a secret wedding, away from prying eyes, on a secluded island in Georgia. Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 5 Mar. 2026 Rodgers added that photographers have also been hounding him to get a glimpse of his partner. Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hound
Noun
  • Aside from butler services, valet parking, and dog and babysitting, the hotel offers an Experience Manager dedicated to curating personalized luxury adventures across the country.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
  • For those exercising and walking their dogs, taking regular water breaks was a must.
    Kenny Choi, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Theme park lovers who yearn for the mines will have their wish granted in 2027 with the debut of Minecraft World.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
  • One of the team's biggest lovers of shoes, senior Rori Harmon gave her stamp of approval.
    Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The movie does attempt to gesture at class and race as thematic underpinnings (the maids trapped in The Virgil are mostly non-white, while the villains are rich Caucasians), but like the story and action at large, these go pretty much nowhere, and feel like obligatory symbols.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Each ship name in the class has fed into a theme on board, with Wish tied to enchantment, Treasure to adventure and Destiny to heroes and villains.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • She was being pursued viciously by the paparazzi, and here was somebody who was literally chased to death by the paparazzi.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
  • What could have been just a mimicry of, say, Edward Norton in American History X becomes something distinctly pitiable and unnerving on its own terms, and Gosling chased the heights of this tormented-20-something performance for a long time, up until the next film on our list.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Liberal Democrat lawmaker Liam McArthur, who drew up the Scottish bill, had urged colleagues to back it.
    JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
  • San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno urged the city to remove his name from all city properties and holidays.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Non-native species like grass carp and common carp, and native blue sucker, bigmouth buffalo, black buffalo, and smallmouth buffalo, have occasionally been mistaken for black carp.
    Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 18 Mar. 2026
  • One of the largest suckers in North America, the Razorback Sucker can grow up to three feet long.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The psychology that Bryk wrote for these young men is the key as to why these brutes are more lovable than unbearable.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Bay Hill was a brute before the round was halted for just over an hour because of heavy rain.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • My Jamaican Table, his first book (Springsteen wrote the foreword), is a mouth-watering mix of traditional classic dishes like oxtail with rice and peas, and curry chicken alongside modern spins on American classics, like his signature jerk smashburger with bacon jam.
    Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026
  • So, yeah, of course this person is (probably) being a real jerk about things.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hound. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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