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

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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

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 Stevens, meanwhile, has cast El-Sayed as an extremist and a publicity hound. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 10 July 2026

Verb

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 Several of those who hounded Miller for payouts have formed new leagues to play together during this upcoming season. — Alex Andrejev, New York Times, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hound

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hound

Noun

Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, had a number of dogs throughout their life.

— Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of dog

Noun

Talking Animals Books in Grapevine is leading the second annual event, encouraging book lovers to wander beyond Main Street and into the heart of the area's indie literary scene.

— CBS News Texas Staff, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Storch does not pretend to be a long-distance lover of English football.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of lover

Noun

The second is the idea that this is where Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch returns to the MCU after being seemingly killed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where she had been turned into a full villain.

— Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
But because Detroit chose the offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Skubal has unwittingly become a villain around the league.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of villain

Verb

The Play-In Tournament is not eagerly being chased, and the league’s broadcasting partners will look elsewhere in the near future.

— Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Absorptive art beckons the viewer—who chases after that which ignores it, a tale as old as time—whereas the Minimalism Fried attacked was very big, very look-at-me, very exhibitionist.

— Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of chase

Noun

The ornamental characteristics of suckers that develop from roots are inferior to the upper portion of the tree.

— Molly Burford, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
The Maryland Terrapins rolled these suckers out in the early 2010s and subsequently burned the retinas of college football fans all over the country.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of sucker

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“Hound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hound. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hound

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verb

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