# hector

/ˈhɛktɝ/ (US) · /hˈɛktɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hector
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to bully or intimidate

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to talk to someone in an angry or bossy way to make them feel small or force them to do something.

For teachers: to behave in an arrogant or intimidating manner; to bully or domineer through blustering speech. Often used transitively with a person as the object.

- The boss would often hector his employees until they were too nervous to speak.
- The prosecutor continued to hector the witness, hoping that a barrage of aggressive questions would eventually force a contradiction in her testimony.

Usage: The verb is often followed by a direct object representing the person being bullied.

### 2. Greek hero

noun · CEFR B2

a famous prince and brave soldier from the city of Troy in ancient Greek stories.

For teachers: The eldest son of King Priam of Troy and the greatest Trojan warrior in the Iliad. Usually capitalized as a proper noun.

- In the story of the Trojan War, Hector is killed by the Greek hero Achilles.
- Homer portrays Hector not merely as a formidable warrior, but as a tragic figure torn between his civic duty to Troy and his love for his family.

## Examples

- The boss likes to hector his employees about being late.
- The lawyer began to hector the witness, hoping that aggressive questioning would lead to a mistake in the testimony.
- Rather than offering constructive criticism, the director chose to hector the cast for their lack of focus, creating an atmosphere of resentment rather than one of creative collaboration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.