A houndA dog used for hunting, or a person or thing that pursues can mean a hunting dog, a person who is relentlesslyIn a way that never stops; with great persistence pursued or pursues, or an insultingShowing disrespect; intended to offend or hurt word for a morally bad person. The most common everyday use today is the verb meaning to chase or pressure someone continually.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /haʊnd/
Easy pronunciation: HOWND (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, so the whole word is stressed.
Verb sense: to pursue or chase relentlessly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hound Meaning
to keep chasing, pressuring, or bothering someone without stopping
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to pursue or chase relentlessly
Example: Reporters hounded the actor for weeks after the scandal broke.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hunt — Can fit in some contexts, but it is broader and not always a direct substitute.
- trace — Works only when the meaning is to keep searching for and following someone or something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Hound
Meaning 2
a type of hunting dog
Part of speech: noun
Definition: any of several breeds of dog used for hunting, typically having large drooping ears
Example: The fox hound ran ahead of the riders.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hound dog — A direct match for the animal sense.
Meaning 3
an unpleasant or dishonorable person
Part of speech: noun
Definition: someone who is morally reprehensible
Example: Only a hound would cheat his own family like that.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- blackguard — A strong insult for a bad or dishonest person.
- bounder — An old-fashioned insult for a rude or dishonorable man.
- cad — An old-fashioned insult for a man who behaves badly.
- heel — A common insult for a contemptible person.
- dog — Can be insulting in this sense, but it is less direct and more context-dependent.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hound Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- hunt
- trace
a hunting dog
- hound dog
an insulting word for a morally bad person
- blackguard
- bounder
- cad
- heel
- dog
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Hound as a noun meaning a dog is not the same as the verb hound meaning to keep chasing or pressuring someone.
- The verb hound is often confused with hunt, but hunt is broader and does not always imply relentless pressure.
- The insult hound for a bad person is old-fashioned and not the normal meaning in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hound mean?
Hound can refer to a hunting dog, a relentless chase or pressure, or an insulting word for a bad person. In modern everyday English, the verb is the most common use.
What is the synonym of hound?
It depends on the sense. For the verb, close options include hunt and trace in some contexts. For the noun meanings, hound dog fits the animal sense, while blackguard, cad, heel, and similar words fit the insult sense.
Is hound positive or negative?
Usually negative when it means to chase or pressure someone, and strongly negative when used as an insult for a person. The dog sense is neutral.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.