hound
1 of 2noun
ˈhau̇nd 
1
a
: dog
b
: a dog of any of numerous hunting breeds including both scent hounds (such as the bloodhound and beagle) and sight hounds (such as the greyhound and Afghan hound)
2
: a mean or despicable person
3
: dogfish
4
: a person who pursues like a hound
especially : one who avidly seeks or collects something
autograph hounds
hound
2 of 2verb
hounded; hounding; hounds
transitive verb
1
: to pursue with or as if with hounds
2
: to drive or affect by persistent harassing
hounder noun
Synonyms
Noun
- canine
- dog
- doggy
- doggie
- pooch
- tyke
- tike
Verb
- bird-dog
- chase
- course
- dog
- follow
- pursue
- run
- shadow
- tag
- tail
- trace
- track
- trail
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive Verb He is being hounded by the press. They hounded me with questions. They hounded me for my autograph. hound a politician out of office See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Stacey Lastoe, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Animal: Maude, 1-year-old, 65-pound, female hound mix. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2022 Chase is finally in his forever home! Until recently, Chase — a nine-year-old, Rhodesian ridgeback/hound mix — had lived at Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic and Ranch in Palm City, Florida, for all but one year of his life. Linda Marx, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022 One patron wore red and yellow suspenders; another brought a Basset hound in a hot dog costume. Nicole Kagan, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 The fifth installment of the Air Buddies franchise follows the Buddies on a quest to stop Warwick the Warlock from unleashing the no-good hound ghosts in their town. Cameron Jenkins, Good Housekeeping, 19 July 2022 Doing that work is Vinny-Duke, a 3-year-old Walker hound therapy dog who joined the Highland Park Police Department in March. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 14 July 2022 Half a mile down at a dog park, Ivan Bolgarov stands next to his small brown-and-black hound, Marka. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 June 2022 Now this hound has something to toot his horn about. CBS News, 23 June 2022 New York Times, 11 June 2022 Authoritarian governments have abused the system in the past to hound opponents and limit their freedom of movement. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 10 Feb. 2022 Admins who don't want this will have to hound each individual user to shut it off. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2022 But questions will still hound several quarterbacks throughout the weekend. Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2022 LeVert gives them hope -- and credibility -- in a first-round series, where opponents were poised to hound Garland and force the ball out of his hands. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 7 Feb. 2022 Caruso and Ball hound ballhandlers outside the arc to complicate their passes into the post and force difficult switches in pick-and-rolls. Julia Poe, chicagotribune.com, 3 Jan. 2022 Lethargic starts continue to hound Maryland, which led just once in the final 9:21 of the first half. Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 30 Dec. 2021 Supporters praise him, conspiracy theorists hound him, bricks get thrown this his window and everyone knows his name. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2021 See More
Noun
Our rescue hound takes prescription medications to manage an autoimmune skin disease triggered by a May splenectomy. Stacey Lastoe, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Animal: Maude, 1-year-old, 65-pound, female hound mix. San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2022 Chase is finally in his forever home! Until recently, Chase — a nine-year-old, Rhodesian ridgeback/hound mix — had lived at Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic and Ranch in Palm City, Florida, for all but one year of his life. Linda Marx, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022 One patron wore red and yellow suspenders; another brought a Basset hound in a hot dog costume. Nicole Kagan, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 The fifth installment of the Air Buddies franchise follows the Buddies on a quest to stop Warwick the Warlock from unleashing the no-good hound ghosts in their town. Cameron Jenkins, Good Housekeeping, 19 July 2022 Doing that work is Vinny-Duke, a 3-year-old Walker hound therapy dog who joined the Highland Park Police Department in March. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 14 July 2022 Half a mile down at a dog park, Ivan Bolgarov stands next to his small brown-and-black hound, Marka. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 June 2022 Now this hound has something to toot his horn about. CBS News, 23 June 2022 Verb
After one of his two first-quarter 3-pointers, Curry screamed into the crowd full of Boston Celtics fans who had showed up early to hound him and his teammates. New York Times, 11 June 2022 Authoritarian governments have abused the system in the past to hound opponents and limit their freedom of movement. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 10 Feb. 2022 Admins who don't want this will have to hound each individual user to shut it off. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2022 But questions will still hound several quarterbacks throughout the weekend. Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2022 LeVert gives them hope -- and credibility -- in a first-round series, where opponents were poised to hound Garland and force the ball out of his hands. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 7 Feb. 2022 Caruso and Ball hound ballhandlers outside the arc to complicate their passes into the post and force difficult switches in pick-and-rolls. Julia Poe, chicagotribune.com, 3 Jan. 2022 Lethargic starts continue to hound Maryland, which led just once in the final 9:21 of the first half. Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 30 Dec. 2021 Supporters praise him, conspiracy theorists hound him, bricks get thrown this his window and everyone knows his name. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English hund; akin to Old High German hunt dog, Latin canis, Greek kyōn
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing hound
Kids Definition
hound 1 of 2
noun
ˈhau̇nd
: a dog with drooping ears that is used in hunting and follows game by the sense of smell
hound
2 of 2verb
hounded; hounding
: to hunt, chase, or annoy without ceasing
"From now on they're gonna be hounding you for an autograph." Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control
Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Controlhound 1 of 2
noun
1
as in dog
a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dog
- canine
- pooch
- mutt
- doggy
- puppy
- doggie
- bitch
- tike
- tyke
- mongrel
- pup
- hunter
- wolfhound
- cur
- coonhound
- whelp
- sheepdog
- gundog
- lapdog
- puppy dog
- bird dog
- bandog
- wolf dog
- sled dog
- watchdog
- police dog
- guide dog
- courser
- working dog
2
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive Synonyms & Similar Words
- lover
- sucker
- fan
- enthusiast
- maniac
- fiend
- fanatic
- buff
- addict
- freak
- junkie
- collector
- fool
- devotee
- aficionado
- nut
- maven
- habitue
- junky
- supporter
- admirer
- bug
- friend
- fancier
- afficionado
- head
- proponent
- groupie
- expert
- mavin
- habitué
- connoisseur
- advocate
- authority
- champion
- cultist
- amateur
- patron
- dilettante
- promoter
- disciple
- votary
- follower
- exponent
- evangelist
- partisan
- adherent
- zealot
- convert
- backer
- hanger-on
- booster
- apostle
- faddist
- rooter
- partizan
- well-wisher
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- critic
- detractor
- nonfan
- carper
- belittler
- nonadmirer
3
as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person a no-good sneaky hound who disappeared with the lottery winnings he was supposed to share Synonyms & Similar Words
- brute
- villain
- monster
- beast
- devil
- criminal
- savage
- fiend
- offender
- nazi
- wretch
- bandit
- rascal
- rogue
- scoundrel
- thug
- knave
- reprobate
- scamp
- miscreant
- caitiff
- assassin
- varlet
- heavy
- scalawag
- scapegrace
- crook
- gangster
- meanie
- rapscallion
- scallywag
- baddie
- evildoer
- snake
- baddy
- meany
- perpetrator
- no-good
- blackguard
- loser
- trespasser
- felon
- perp
- culprit
- lawbreaker
- outlaw
- convict
- heel
- ruffian
- serpent
- viper
- desperado
- hooligan
- con
- goon
- malefactor
- cad
- transgressor
- sinner
- villainess
- racketeer
- wrongdoer
- hoodlum
- jailbird
- tough
- rough
- lowlife
- stinker
- cutthroat
- rowdy
- bravo
- trash
- gunman
- ne'er-do-well
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hero
- innocent
- angel
- saint
4
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others nobody could stand that low-down hound and his penchant for mean-spirited pranks Synonyms & Similar Words
- dog
- bastard
- jerk
- clown
- skunk
- beast
- rat
- creep
- snake
- joker
- brute
- cur
- idiot
- swine
- toad
- reptile
- bugger
- heel
- vermin
- brat
- varmint
- moron
- blighter
- rotter
- buzzard
- louse
- fool
- bounder
- fink
- stinker
- cad
- boor
- scumbag
- scum
- pill
- lout
- villain
- nuisance
- dirtbag
- cretin
- sod
- slime
- chuff
- schmuck
- slimeball
- churl
- barbarian
- savage
- scuzzball
- sleazebag
- sleaze
- slob
- bleeder
- stinkard
- crud
- crumb
- sleazeball
- nerd
- wretch
- rat fink
- so-and-so
- rogue
- rascal
- scoundrel
- son of a gun
- lowlife
- scamp
- caveman
- miscreant
- loudmouth
- goon
- vulgarian
- scab
- imbecile
- dolt
- turkey
- insolent
- jackass
- blockhead
- roughneck
- snob
- booby
- snot
- dope
- pest
- ninny
- doofus
- nut
- airhead
- nincompoop
- nitwit
- dink
- dork
- nit
- schmo
- schmoe
- birdbrain
- dweeb
- Neanderthal
- snip
- snoot
- half-wit
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hero
- gentleman
- lady
- heroine
- idol
- saint
- angel
- role model
hound
2 of 2verb
1
as in to chase
to go after or on the track of after the scandal came to light, the politician was hounded by reporters night and day Synonyms & Similar Words
- chase
- track
- dog
- pursue
- trail
- escort
- follow
- tail
- accompany
- trace
- course
- tag
- bird-dog
- shadow
- hunt
- run after
- run
- watch
- seek
- eye
- chaperone
- observe
- chaperon
- search (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- guide
- lead
- pilot
- head
2
as in to dog
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders kept hounding his mother to let him drive her car until she gave in Synonyms & Similar Words
- dog
- nag
- badger
- urge
- beg
- bother
- henpeck
- pick at
- needle
- annoy
- harass
- pester
- harry
- plague
- bait
- peck (at)
- push
- irk
- goad
- egg
- vex
- insist
- bug
- spur
- coax
- prompt
- pressure
- ride
- chivvy
- chivy
- cajole
- incite
- blandish
- wheedle
- hassle
- exhort
- prod
- plead
- importune
- carp (at)
- press
- nitpick
- fuss (about or over)
- yap (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- compliment
- praise
- laud
- recommend
- tout
- commend
- build up
- extol
- applaud
- eulogize
- acclaim
- extoll
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of hound are badger, bait, chivy, heckle, and hector. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.
hounded by creditors
The words badger and hound can be used in similar contexts, but badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.
badgered her father for a car
While the synonyms bait and hound are close in meaning, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.
baited the chained dog
Although the words chivy and hound have much in common, chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.
chivied the new student mercilessly
The words heckle and hound are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.
drunks heckled the stand-up comic
While in some cases nearly identical to hound, hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.
football players hectored by their coach