as in bully
a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable persons
law penalizing debt collection agencies that operate like hectors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to intimidate
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hector
The Economist, 18 July 2017
Trump’s proposals to match China’s import fees and to hector companies into keeping jobs in the United States represent a huge threat to the mercantilist Asian economic model.
—Joel Kotkin, Orange County Register, 2 Apr. 2017
Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
The Trump administration’s bullying, hectoring and hostility toward America’s allies and friends have irrevocably deflated American credibility.
—Anthony Lake, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hector
Noun
THE young woman with the microphone cajoles, hectors and wheedles customers with the breathless enthusiasm of a livestock auctioneer at a county fair.
—The Economist, 18 July 2017
Trump’s proposals to match China’s import fees and to hector companies into keeping jobs in the United States represent a huge threat to the mercantilist Asian economic model.
—Joel Kotkin, Orange County Register, 2 Apr. 2017
Verb
Indeed, last summer, Beijing hectored Cambridge University Press into sanitizing the digital archive of The China Quarterly, an important English-language academic journal, by removing over 300 articles the CCP found objectionable from its Chinese search function.
—Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
The Trump administration’s bullying, hectoring and hostility toward America’s allies and friends have irrevocably deflated American credibility.
—Anthony Lake, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hector
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hector
Noun
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Thanks again for continuing to report this story and for standing up to the bully.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 June 2025
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Hogwarts bully Draco Malfoy was played by Tom Felton in the films; Lucius Malfoy by Jason Isaacs.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Swatting is the criminal practice of calling law enforcement, particularly Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, to someone's house in order to harass or intimidate them.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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As intimidating as the private equity process may be for franchisors, the jargon and statistics that are a part of everyday franchise life are just as opaque to investors.—
Patrick Galleher,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Watch Prey on Hulu Predator The original Predator movie is set in the present day (which would be 1987) and follows a paramilitary rescue team who quickly discovers that rebel forces in the South American jungle aren’t their most dangerous enemy.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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As the resupply convoys approach the forward locations, they are frequently targeted and destroyed by enemy drones.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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May 9, 2024 Gary Usher, a songwriter who worked with Landy, told state investigators that Wilson was a virtual captive, manipulated by a man who frightened and intimidated him.—
Steve Marble,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2025
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Today, movies and TV intended for the biggest audience possible often water down their storytelling and generalize in order to avoid anything that might challenge, frighten or unsettle the audience.—
Alissa Wilkinson,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hector. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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