henpecked

[ hen-pekt ]
/ ˈhɛnˌpɛkt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR henpecked ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

browbeaten, bullied, or intimidated by one's wife, girlfriend, etc.: a henpecked husband who never dared to contradict his wife.

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Origin of henpecked

First recorded in 1670–80; hen + peck2 + -ed2

OTHER WORDS FROM henpecked

hen·peck·ing, noun

Words nearby henpecked

hennin, henoch, henoch-schönlein purpura, henotheism, henpeck, henpecked, henri, henrietta, henrietta maria, henry, henry i

Definition for henpecked (2 of 2)

henpeck
[ hen-pek ]
/ ˈhɛnˌpɛk /

verb (used with object)

to browbeat, bully, or intimidate (one's husband, boyfriend, etc.).

OTHER WORDS FROM henpeck

hen·pecked, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to henpecked

acquiescent, compliant, constrained, docile, intimidated, meek, obedient, passive, resigned, submissive, timid, yielding, browbeaten, dominated, unassertive, unresisting

Example sentences from the Web for henpecked

British Dictionary definitions for henpecked (1 of 2)

henpecked
/ (ˈhɛnˌpɛkd) /

adjective

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

British Dictionary definitions for henpecked (2 of 2)

henpeck
/ (ˈhɛnˌpɛk) /

verb

(tr) (of a woman) to harass or torment (a man, esp her husband) by persistent nagging
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012