Some of his contemporaries sympathized with Jesse James because they saw him as a man hounded into a life of crime by Union soldiers who hated the Confederacy. Jesse and his gang did try to justify their acts by claiming that they had been unjustly attacked by the authorities. The story of Jesse James, his gang, and their daring robberies continues to appeal to many moviegoers and readers interested in the American West.
Reference: legendsofamerica.com
The underlined word “hounded” in the passage is closest in meaning to which of the following?
Guided
Push
Ordered
Persuaded