hectoring 1 of 2

noun

Definition of hectoringnext
as in browbeating

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hectoring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hector
as in intimidating
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hectoring
  1. intimidating
  2. bullying
  3. onslaught
  4. threat
  5. frenzy
  6. revolt
  7. upheaval
  8. outrage
Verb
  • But what’s really intimidating is looking at his size-21 shoes.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Gill developed this approach while struggling to write a keynote speech, breaking down intimidating tasks into manageable 15-minute increments.
    Janine MacLachlan, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Definition of intimidating
Noun
  • In a report published by the Swedish publication Aftonbladet, the Swedish designer and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree has been accused of bullying, discrimination and creating a toxic work environment by a group of anonymous former Djerf Avenue employees.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Corpus is under investigation for allegations of misconduct, corruption and workplace bullying, among other accusations.
    Ryan Macasero, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024
Definition of bullying
Noun
  • Cruise companies are then not the bad guys delivering an onslaught of daytrippers into Europe's rammed summer cobbled streets by keeping everyone onboard longer with many activities.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
  • The Warriors went scoreless for four minutes as a tight game became an 18-point onslaught.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
Definition of onslaught
Noun
  • In an interview Monday with Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation, Jon Morosi of MLB Network said the biggest threat to sign Hernández might be yet another runner-up in the Soto sweepstakes: The Boston Red Sox.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
  • That decision involved whether certain categories of people — namely those found to pose a credible threat to others — can be temporarily disarmed.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of threat
Noun
  • However, the football player dressed in a tuxedo surprised the London crowd on June 23 by picking up a crumpled Swift and sending the fandom into a frenzy.
    Bryan West, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Her fabulously named Delysia Lafosse treats life like a Mae West comedy, juggling three hunky lovers, deluxe showbiz dreams, and a starchy social secretary (Frances McDormand) with screwball frenzy.
    Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of frenzy
Noun
  • But if there is any kind of revolt from Johnson’s conservative detractors during the Jan. 3 Speaker vote, no Democrats will step in to save him, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) warned on Wednesday.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
  • On the morning of the revolt, a young French soldier ran into a Natchez woman who tipped him off about the impending attack.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2024
Definition of revolt
Noun
  • The resulting fallout led to internal upheaval and a loss of trust.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Turn Adversity into Opportunity Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour emerged from a period of significant brand upheaval.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of upheaval
Noun
  • After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Google ‘woke’ Christmas ad sparks outrage: Rising reacts Niall Stanage and Amber Duke weigh in on backlash Google is getting for using a nonbinary influencer in Christmas ad.
    The Hill, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of outrage
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near hectoring

hectored

hectoring

hectors

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Hectoring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hectoring. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on hectoring

Nglish: Translation of hectoring for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of hectoring for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...