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

I was raised by a sweet henpecked father, who would have said something disparaging about himself to get me to help him with his computer or read tiny print.

From Los Angeles Times

Michael Burlingame, a professor of history at the University of Illinois Springfield, said that other than treating Lincoln as a “classic henpecked husband,” at face value there’s nothing funny about Mary Todd Lincoln.

From New York Times

A henpecked husband looks to his talking dog for consolation.

From Los Angeles Times

Viewers laughed at Philbin’s mock indignation over not getting the best seat at a restaurant the night before or being henpecked by his partner.

From Fox News

Viewers laughed at Philbin’s mock indignation over not getting the best seat at a restaurant the night before, or being henpecked by his partner.

From Washington Times