verb

hector

HEHK-tuh

verb

To bully or intimidate someone through loud, aggressive bluster.

"Stop hectoring the waiter — it wasn't his fault."

"The coach hectored the referees all game long."

noun

A blustering bully who tries to intimidate through loud, aggressive behavior.

"He was a hector at school, always picking on smaller kids."

How to Use Hector

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo push someone around with loud, aggressive nagging or intimidation.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the verb "to hector" with the given name Hector — context makes it clear, but they're historically linked.

Common pairings

hector someone into stop hectoring

Word Forms

hectored past tense, hectors plural, hectors singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Stop _____ the waiter — it wasn't his fault.

Etymology

From Hector, the noble Trojan warrior in Homer's Iliad. Ironically, the verb sense came from swaggering London gangs of the 1600s who called themselves "Hectors" after the hero's reputation for boldness — but their bullying behavior twisted the name into an insult.

Rhymes for hector

vector rector sector ejector Spector director detector defector injector inspector collector protector

See all rhymes for hector →