hounding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hounding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of persistently following or demanding something from someone, often in a bothersome manner. Example: "The journalist was hounding the celebrity for an exclusive interview, making it difficult for her to enjoy her privacy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Journalists friendly to the government began hounding her – even while her father lay dying in hospital after an accident.

The Guardian - Opinion

I understand that there is a huge constituency out there for this kind of anti-terror and also crime-busting legislation - and it won't do you any harm in the run-up to the local elections to be sounding as tough as you do in this exchange - but it is worrying that nowhere in the paragraph when you describe hounding criminals and drug dealers do you mention a court of law.

The Guardian - Opinion

With less hyperbole but plenty of exasperation, Mr Sullivan, an advocate of marriage equality since the 1990s, was first out of the gates to lament the "hounding of a heretic": "You want to squander the real gains we have made by argument and engagement by becoming just as intolerant of others' views as the Christianists?

The Economist

Several German newspapers, which have taken to hounding Mr Ackermann, have argued this week that he has lost the credibility to see through the acquisition of another big German bank, which they believe is now needed to bolster Deutsche's customer and capital base.

The Economist

Mr Zakayev and his supporters believe that no British court will hand him over to the mercies of Russia's notoriously corrupt and politically biased legal system.In this section Gridlocked Britain Ken's gamble Papers please Unwelcome guest Ferrets abroad Targetitis Limping along War of nerves Hounding Cherie ReprintsThey are probably right.

The Economist

Secularists and even liberals at first applauded his hounding of the Ennahda party, a mild Islamist movement, linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, that had flowered in the chaotic waning years of Mr Bourguiba's rule.

The Economist

So now the CBN is trying to curb smuggling in a less disruptive way, by hounding the banks that supply the black market with dollars.Many Nigerian banks earn the bulk of their profits by "round-tripping"—buying dollars from the central bank at the official rate and reselling them to smugglers for a big mark-up.

The Economist

Within days he turned down the bonus.If stripping one failed banker of his knighthood and hounding another who is making a decent fist of a difficult job looks like a witch-hunt, that's because it is.

The Economist

Some see a clash between the idealistic promotion of open government and the hounding of WikiLeaks.

The Economist

Sending the foreigners home With allies like this… Vroom-vroom in the bush ReprintsBy contrast, puritanical Salafists and jihadists across the region have seized on Mr Morsi's hounding from power to vindicate their long-held hostility to the ballot box.

The Economist

The party has used its majority to entrench its power, and make it impossible for the BNP ever to win an election: by abolishing the caretaker system, hounding its leaders and banning its largest coalition partner, Jamaat-e-Islami, for its avowedly Islamic platform.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hounding" when you want to convey a sense of relentless and often unfair pursuit, especially by a group or organization. It suggests a persistent effort to pressure or harass someone.

Common error

Avoid using "hounding" when a neutral or legitimate pursuit is intended. For example, instead of saying "The police are hounding the suspect", use "investigating" or "pursuing" if the actions are within legal bounds.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hounding" is as a verb, specifically the present participle or gerund form of the verb "hound". It describes an ongoing action of pursuing or harassing someone relentlessly. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hounding" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, primarily found in news and media contexts. It describes the act of relentlessly pursuing or harassing someone. While alternatives like "harassing" or "chasing" exist, "hounding" carries a specific connotation of unfair and persistent pressure. When using "hounding", ensure the context aligns with this negative implication to avoid misrepresentation. The examples from Ludwig further demonstrate its application in portraying situations of intense and often unwelcome pursuit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harassing

Implies a more direct and aggressive form of unwanted attention than "hounding".

dogging

Similar to "hounding", suggesting persistent pursuit, but can also imply loyalty.

persecuting

Suggests a systematic and often discriminatory form of harassment, more severe than "hounding".

chasing

Focuses on the act of pursuit, without necessarily implying malicious intent like "hounding" does.

bullying

Indicates aggressive behavior intended to intimidate or dominate; more overtly aggressive than "hounding".

stalking

Implies a more secretive and obsessive form of pursuit, often with potential for danger, unlike "hounding".

shadowing

Implies following someone closely and often secretly, focusing more on observation than direct interaction as "hounding" does.

badgering

Indicates persistent questioning or urging, which is less intense and pervasive than "hounding".

pestering

Suggests annoying someone with frequent requests or interruptions; less forceful than "hounding".

pressuring

Implies applying influence or coercion, which may or may not involve direct pursuit as in "hounding".

FAQs

How can I use "hounding" in a sentence?

You can use "hounding" to describe persistent pursuit or harassment. For example, "The media was "hounding" the celebrity for details about her personal life."

What's the difference between "harassing" and "hounding"?

"Harassing" is a more general term for unwanted and annoying behavior. "Hounding" often implies a more relentless and organized pursuit, frequently by a group.

What can I say instead of "hounding"?

You can use alternatives like "harassing", "persecuting", or "chasing" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the word "hounding"?

Use "hounding" when you want to emphasize the relentless and often unfair nature of the pursuit or harassment. It's suitable when the actions seem excessive or unjustified.