Hector

[ hek-ter ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology. the eldest son of Priam and husband of Andromache: the greatest Trojan hero in the Trojan War, killed by Achilles.
2. (lowercase) a blustering, domineering person; a bully.
3. a male given name.

verb (used with object)

1. (lowercase) to treat with insolence; bully; torment:

   The teacher hectored his students incessantly.

   Synonyms: harass, badger, persecute, torture

verb (used without object)

1. (lowercase) to act in a blustering, domineering way; be a bully.

hector

¹

/ ˈhɛktə /

verb

1. to bully or torment

noun

1. a blustering bully

Hector

²

/ ˈhɛktə /

noun

1. classical myth a son of King Priam of Troy, who was killed by Achilles

Hector

1. In classical mythology , a prince of Troy and the bravest of the Trojan warriors. At the end of the Trojan War (see also Trojan War ), Achilles killed Hector and then dragged his body behind a chariot around the walls of Troy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hector¹

< Latin < Greek Héktōr, special use of adj. héktōr holding fast

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hector¹

C17: after Hector (the son of Priam), in the sense: a bully

Example Sentences

Like many of Harris’ media appearances, those events assured the former president steered well away from hectoring hosts and their inconvenient fact-checking.

From Los Angeles Times

He couldn’t simply hector away the constraints of a courtroom and the clear language of the law.

From Seattle Times

At David Geffen Hall on Wednesday, Gianandrea Noseda led the Philharmonic in a performance of the Fourth that sidestepped its intriguing, hectoring mystery and embraced the more conventional aspects of its Romanticism.

From New York Times

No one in history has embodied the role of a fascist gym teacher more thoroughly than Jordan, a man whose only waking mode is "hectoring."

From Salon

Biden will bring up concerns about press freedoms, religious freedoms and other issues in a respectful way without "hectoring, lecturing or scolding," one U.S. official who briefed reporters said.

From Reuters

Related Words

• browbeat
• irritate
• nag