hector

noun

hec·tor | \ ˈhek-tər

Definition of hector

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 capitalized : a son of Priam, husband of Andromache, and Trojan champion slain by Achilles

2 : bully, braggart

hector

verb

hectored; hectoring\ ˈhek-t(ə-)riŋ

Definition of hector (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to behave in an arrogant or intimidating way : to play the bully : swagger

transitive verb

: to intimidate or harass by bluster or personal pressure football players being hectored by their coach

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Choose the Right Synonym for hector

Verb

bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim. baited the chained dog badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy. badgered her father for a car heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker. drunks heckled the stand-up comic hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering. football players hectored by their coach chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging. chivied the new student mercilessly hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing. hounded by creditors

Did You Know?

Verb

Hector wasn't always a bully. In Homer's Iliad, the eldest son of King Priam of Troy was a model soldier, son, father, and friend, the champion of the Trojan army until he was killed by the Greek hero Achilles. How did the name of a Trojan paragon become a generic synonym of bully? That pejorative English use was likely influenced by gangs of rowdy street toughs who roamed London in the 17th century and called themselves "Hectors." They may have thought themselves gallant young blades, but to the general populace they were merely swaggering bullies who intimidated passersby and vandalized property. By 1660, hector was being used as a noun for the sort of blustering braggarts who populated those gangs, and as a verb as well.

Examples of hector in a Sentence

Noun

a small-town hector with no job and lots of time on his hands

Verb

The judge ordered the attorney to stop hectoring the witness.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Photo: hector retamal/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Seven hours into the march, Mrs. Lam apologized to the Hong Kong people for mishandling the bill. — Wenxin Fan, WSJ, "Hong Kong Marchers Flood Streets Over Extradition Bill," 16 June 2019 Mr. Liggett sometimes used his art to hector neighbors in a score of grievances. — Donald Frazier, Washington Post, "M.T. Liggett, who lined a highway with politically provocative art, dies at 86," 26 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hector.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for hector

hector

verb

English Language Learners Definition of hector

: to criticize or question (someone) in a threatening way

See the full definition for hector in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hector

Definition of hector

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Synonyms for hector

Choose the Right Synonym for hector

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Examples of hector in a Sentence

First Known Use of hector

History and Etymology for hector

English Language Learners Definition of hector

hector

Definition of hector

Other Words from hector

Synonyms for hector

Choose the Right Synonym for hector

Did You Know?

Examples of hector in a Sentence

First Known Use of hector

History and Etymology for hector

English Language Learners Definition of hector

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