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Definition of hectoring

hectoring

/ˈhɛk.tər.ɪŋ/
hec · tor · ing
Adverb:hectoringly
•
Plural:hectorings
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hectoring Lexical Profile

hectoring Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Talking or behaving in an overbearing, bullying, or intimidating manner.

Example

"The committee quickly grew tired of the chairman's hectoring tone during the budget review."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

The act or practice of talking to someone in a bullying, intimidating, or overbearing way.

Example

"Despite the prosecutor's relentless hectoring, the witness remained calm and composed on the stand."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

hectogram
hectoliter
hectometer
hectoring
hedge
hedge bindweed
hedgehog

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'hector', which comes from the Trojan hero Hector in Homer's 'Iliad'; although portrayed as noble in antiquity, his name came to denote a swaggering bully or braggart in 17th-century London.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hectoring. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hectoring
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