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• Hector
  Hector

  noun

  the eldest son of Priam and husband of Andromache: the greatest Trojan hero in the Trojan War, killed by Achilles.
• hector
  hector

  verb

  to bully or torment

Hector

American  

[hek-ter] / ˈhɛk tər /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈhɛktə /

verb

1. to bully or torment

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noun

1. a blustering bully

Hector ² British  

/ ˈhɛktə /

noun

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

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Hector Cultural  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of Hector

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

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Explanation

To hector is to boss around or verbally bully someone. An older brother might hector his little sister until she hands over part of her Halloween candy. When you bombard someone with words, nagging and badgering until you get what you want, you hector. A teacher might feel the need to hector a class that consistently forgets to hand in homework assignments, and a playground bully might hector another child to give him her lunch money. The verb hector comes from the character in Greek mythology — Hector — who rallied the Trojans to keep fighting.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Hector hector

Sutherland-born landowner, Gen Sir Hector Munro of Novar, had the folly built and paid for it with prize money and pensions he earned serving with the British Army in India.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

"Instead of water, oil comes out," said retired military officer Hector Valero Balestrini, gesturing toward a hillside where crude oozes naturally from the ground.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

Begoña Iglesias, 62, began living in a camper she shares with her son, Hector, about four years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

When the pandemic nearly ended his hair-cutting career, Hector Trinidad didn’t give up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

This was the funeral of Hector, tamer of horses.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

But Mr. Biden should strive to persuade rather than to hector.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 20, 2021

I do not want to nag or hector.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2021

I’d hector you for appropriating my culture, but these pages are a safe space for sartorial experimentation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2021

We can spend the next year trying to hector independents out of the race.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2019

Beneath the tight-trimmed beard his heavy jaw clenched hard, yet he did not hector her about titles.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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Related Words

• browbeat
• irritate
• nag

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