Synonyms for

Hawk

Verb / hɔ:k / Another word for hawk — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to hunt with or as if with a hawk; to pursue relentlessly or attack fiercely

Synonyms & similar words

monger mortarboard warhawk dove vend peddle clearthethroat pitch huckster hunt pursue chase stalk prey seize capture attack assail ambush strike pounce jump launch spring rush assault beset besiege harass

Synonyms by register

Formal

predator raptor bird of prey

Informal

bird sky hunter

Literary

sky-king feathered hunter winged sentinel

Antonyms

dove pigeon sparrow finch wren

Common collocations

  • red-tailed hawk
  • hawk eye
  • hawk moth
  • hawk sparrow
  • hawk eagle
  • hawk owl
  • hawk bill

Word family

noun hawk
verb hawk

Usage note

As a verb, 'to hawk' means to sell goods, often by calling out loudly. This is distinct from the bird of prey meaning.

Example sentences

  1. The hawk swooped down and caught a mouse.
  2. The hunter used a hawk to catch rabbits.
  3. The football player was determined to hawk down the quarterback.
  4. The detective was hawking the suspect's every move.
  5. The paparazzi were hawking the celebrity's every move.

Quotes

  • The hawk is aerial brother of the wave which he sails over and surveys, those blue depths which are his home.
  • I cannot but think that if we had more true knowledge of a bird's ways and all their persistent peculiarities, which I have only a suspicion of, we might conduct certain processes of husbandry with greater profit and certitude.
  • A hawk is better than a hen as long as he is hungry.

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