as in enemies
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 intimidates
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 hectors
Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
At the slightest provocation, Ye bullies, hectors, and screams at everyone from Paris fashion-show lackeys to the mother of his child.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hectors
Noun
-
Vaccines present either defanged pathogens or distinctive fragments of them to specialized immune cells—namely, T cells and antibody-producing B cells—that can then learn to identify those microbial enemies.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
-
His history with China has not been positive — he is embroiled with allies and enemies, and faces an economy that could derail his leadership.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
The aura of the classical guitar intimidates me.—
Peter Wayne Moe,
Longreads,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While audiences watched Sheldon navigate school and its bullies, the actors behind the scenes were building impressive lives of their own.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
There are others as well, like a special investigator character working from the outside, who feels like an afterthought in the writing process, and some teenage bullies who meet delicious ends.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The notion of cow tipping is based on the idea that cows sleep standing up.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Mother cows bond deeply with their calves.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All the while, Sarah is being hunted by corporate intimidators Dawson (Sam Worthington) and Rosetti (Willa Fitzgerald), who want to ensure her silence.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
-
White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hectors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hectors. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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