henpecked

[ hen-pekt ]

adjective

1. browbeaten, bullied, or intimidated by one's wife, girlfriend, etc.:

   a henpecked husband who never dared to contradict his wife.

henpecked

/ ˈhɛnˌpɛkd /

adjective

1. (of a man) continually harassed or tormented by the persistent nagging of a woman (esp his wife)

Other Words From

• henpecking noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of henpecked¹

First recorded in 1670–80; hen + peck ¹ + -ed ²

Example Sentences

One danger is that women will be henpecked by men who now claim that unprotected sex is medically safe.

From The Daily Beast

Martha paid as little attention to the old man's injunctions as a predominant dame gives to those of a henpecked husband.

From Project Gutenberg

He still believed that she was excessively fond of him—a common delusion of husbands, especially when henpecked.

From Project Gutenberg

Socrates was henpecked, and was one of the greatest philosophers in the world—but the rule does not hold good any longer.

From Project Gutenberg

I saw one instance where a henpecked husband "ran amok" and killed or wounded seventeen people before he himself was killed.

From Project Gutenberg

I am prepared to become an awful example of a henpecked husband.

From Project Gutenberg