HOUND Synonyms: 337 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

hound 1 of 2

noun

ˈhau̇nd

Definition of hound

as in dog

a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in lover

a person with a strong and habitual liking for something a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in villain

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person a no-good sneaky hound who disappeared with the lottery winnings he was supposed to share

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bastard

a person whose behavior is offensive to others nobody could stand that low-down hound and his penchant for mean-spirited pranks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hound

2 of 2

verb

as in to chase

to go after or on the track of after the scandal came to light, the politician was hounded by reporters night and day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to dog

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders kept hounding his mother to let him drive her car until she gave in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

The indictment also accuses the pair of neglecting three dogs — a female dachshund, a male hound and a female Doberman — by allegedly failing to provide them with adequate food, water, sanitary conditions and ventilation. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 Christina Bluhme was high on the flanks of Britain's tallest mountain with her dogs and one of the hounds was a lot higher — and not in a good way. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

Verb

The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick has been consistently hounding Miami’s quarterbacks. — Omar Kelly august 6, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 Gen might have gotten away scot-free from the sheets incident in terms of optics — no one questions her involvement, even though her job description includes housekeeping — but karma hounds her during the first day of the charter. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hound

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hound

Noun

The local community has also rallied to help the family by delivering meals, caring for their kids and walking their dog.

— Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Four months later, he was seen last weekend walking dogs, taking walks, enjoying a cup of coffee in a garage, and even stopping to sift through neighborhood trash items on the side of the street.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of dog

Noun

Her daughter, who is an animal lover, has learned about marine creatures by scuba diving and going on submarine rides on their trips.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Overnight, the foundation became a staple among makeup artists and beauty lovers worldwide, thanks to its second-skin finish and lit-from-within glow.

— Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of lover

Noun

Hailing from London as the son of hardscrabble fruit sellers, Winstone was often asked to channel his rough-and-tumble upbringing and pre-acting career as a boxer into mobster and villain roles.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026
Standing in his way is a mysterious villain intent on his destruction.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of villain

Noun

The latter accidentally does happen, which leads to power struggles between the bigoted jerk and our trio of heroines.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Duffy, for his part, came across as a real jerk at times, but surprisingly charming at others, with a half-nerd, half-jock mien—sweepy hair, big glasses, a megawatt smile—that put me in mind of a Wisconsin Sam Seaborn.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of jerk

Verb

The North American box office is still chasing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and despite a blockbuster summer, ticket sales are still lagging.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
That’s some serious currency for Mahomes to be taking into Season 10 with so much still in front of him — both in terms of years to play, presumably, and goals to chase.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of chase

Verb

The criticism then broadened, with Jewish leaders, museum donors and New York politicians publicly urging the museum to reconsider.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
The Sierra Club emailed notices to members last week urging them to enter the permit lottery again.

— Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of urge

Noun

In 2019, when Altamirano was mayor pro tem, a council member accused Altamirano of sucker-punching him.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Often, a tree grows suckers in response to stress from pests, diseases, or damage, or to difficult conditions such as inadequate root space or insufficient water.

— Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of sucker

Noun

Most sportsmen wonder how any whitetail bucks, let alone a brute such as Kontras’, could have been so easily patterned.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
The show’s depiction of Hugh as a family man has been much more sympathetic than the book’s description of him as a power-hungry brute.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of brute

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hot waters

hound

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Style

“Hound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hound. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hound

noun

verb

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