Hound — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈhau̇nd/

Meaning & Definition of Hound

Hound (noun)

  1. dog
  2. 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)
  3. a mean or despicable person

Hound (verb)

  1. to pursue with or as if with hounds
  2. to drive or affect by persistent harassing

Hound (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes

    "in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark"

    similar: canine, dog, doggy, pooch, tyke
    related: cur, mongrel, mutt, bitch, lapdog, pup, puppy, puppy dog, whelp, bandog, bird dog, coonhound, courser, gundog, hunter, sheepdog, sled dog, watchdog, wolf dog, wolfhound, guide dog, police dog, working dog

  2. a person with a strong and habitual liking for something

    "a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive"

    similar: addict, aficionado, buff, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué, head, junkie, lover, maniac (informal), maven, nut, sucker
    related: groupie, admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante, authority, expert, adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary, advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter, partisan, zealot, booster, rooter, well-wisher, faddist
    opposite: nonfan
    near: nonadmirer, belittler, carper, critic, detractor

  3. a mean, evil, or unprincipled person

    "a no-good sneaky hound who disappeared with the lottery winnings he was supposed to share"

    similar: baddie, beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, fiend, heavy, knave, meanie, miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate, rogue, savage, scalawag, scamp, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, villain, wretch
    related: villainess, blackguard, criminal, crook, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, offender, perp, perpetrator, transgressor, sinner, trespasser, wrongdoer, cad, heel, serpent, snake, viper, bandit, bravo, desperado, outlaw, con, convict, jailbird, assassin, cutthroat, gangster, goon, gunman, hoodlum, hooligan, racketeer, ruffian, thug, rough, rowdy, tough, loser, lowlife, ne'er-do-well, stinker, trash
    near: angel, innocent, saint, hero

  4. a person whose behavior is offensive to others

    "nobody could stand that low-down hound and his penchant for mean-spirited pranks"

    similar: bastard, beast, bleeder (British), blighter (chiefly British), boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud (slang), crumb (slang), cur, dirtbag (slang), dog, fink, heel, jerk, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck (slang), scum, scumbag (slang), scuzzball (slang), skunk, sleaze, sleazebag (slang), sleazeball (slang), slime, slimeball (slang), slob, snake, so-and-so, sod (chiefly British), stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin, son of a gun
    related: barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage, loudmouth, vulgarian, lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch, booby, doofus (slang), fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit (chiefly British), nitwit, nut, schmo (slang), airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink (slang), dolt, dope, dork (slang), goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey, brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip, snob, snoot, snot, dweeb (slang), nerd
    near: hero, heroine, idol, role model, gentleman, lady, angel, saint

Hound (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go after or on the track of

    "after the scandal came to light, the politician was hounded by reporters night and day"

    similar: bird-dog, chase, course, dog, follow, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail, run after
    related: accompany, chaperone, escort, hunt, search (for), seek, eye, observe, watch
    opposite: guide, lead, pilot
    near: head

  2. to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

    "kept hounding his mother to let him drive her car until she gave in"

    similar: dog, henpeck, nag, needle, peck (at), pick at
    related: carp (at), fuss (about or over), nitpick, annoy, badger, bait, bother, bug, chivy, harass, harry, hassle, irk, pester, plague, ride, vex, yap (at), egg, goad, incite, prod, prompt, spur, urge, exhort, insist, press, pressure, push, blandish, cajole, coax, wheedle, beg, importune, plead
    near: compliment, commend, laud, praise, recommend, tout, acclaim, applaud, build up, eulogize, extol

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hound

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hound:

Slang: crud, crumb, dirtbag, schmuck, scumbag, scuzzball, sleazebag, sleazeball, slimeball
Chiefly British: blighter, sod
Informal: maniac
British: bleeder
canine, dog, doggy, pooch, tyke, addict, aficionado, buff, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué, head, junkie, lover, maven, nut, sucker, baddie, beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, heavy, knave, meanie, miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hound

Words with the opposite meaning of Hound:

nonfan, guide, lead, pilot

Related Words for Hound

mongrel, mutt, bitch, lapdog, pup, puppy, puppy dog, whelp, bandog, bird dog, coonhound, courser, gundog, hunter, sheepdog, sled dog, watchdog, wolf dog, wolfhound, guide dog, police dog, working dog, groupie, admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante, authority, expert

Near Antonyms of Hound

nonadmirer, belittler, carper, critic, detractor, angel, innocent, saint, hero, heroine, idol, role model, gentleman, lady, head, compliment, commend, laud, praise, recommend, tout, acclaim, applaud, build up, eulogize, extol

Word Forms of Hound

Inflections: hounded, hounding, hounds

Derived words: hounder (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hound

Middle English, from Old English hund; akin to Old High German hunt dog, Latin canis, Greek kyōn

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Hound

hound's-tongue, Afghan hound, basset hound, Ibizan hound, lyam-hound, rock hound, scent hound, sight hound

Frequently Asked Questions about Hound

What does "Hound" mean?

"Hound" means dog. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: dog. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hound"?

Other words for "Hound" include canine, dog, doggy, pooch, tyke, addict, aficionado and buff. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hound" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hound"?

There are 294 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hound". Common alternatives include canine, dog, doggy, pooch, tyke, addict, aficionado, buff, bug and devotee.

What is a slang word for "Hound"?

Slang words for "Hound" include crud, crumb, dirtbag, schmuck, scumbag and scuzzball.

What is the opposite of "Hound"?

Antonyms of "Hound" include nonfan, guide, lead and pilot. Near antonyms include nonadmirer, belittler, carper and critic.

How do you use "Hound" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hound" in a sentence: "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"; "a no-good sneaky hound who disappeared with the lottery winnings he was supposed to share".

Is "Hound" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hound" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hound"?

"Hound" is pronounced /ˈhau̇nd/.