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to henpeck

to henpeck

1 7.8
To criticize or control a partner again and again in a bossy way
  • verb
  • /ˈhɛnˌpɛk/
  • Archaic
: mandonear
  • Looking at her mother's hard jaw and her father's unabashed smile, we perceived he was henpecked and didn't care or didn't know it.

Examples

  • And Mr. Stewart plays the lush, the good-natured drunk, and unlike modern movies, this is not an alcoholism we are rooting for him to overcome; he accepts it as part of him, and so do we, while the world tries to "improve" him like a henpecking wife.

    Blog text (2)
  • I'm saying ho, like punk bitch that's been henpecked... ...so he ain't got no more nuts, because his girl runs the house.

  • Ever heard the expression "henpecked"?

    Blog text (31)
  • He running home all henpecked.

  • She's plump, she works hard, but she henpecks him.

  • She tends to henpeck her husband about his eating habits, always reminding him to eat healthier.

  • Many believe he is henpecked because his wife makes all the household decisions.

  • Whenever they go out, she henpecks him about the clothes he wears, insisting he dress more formally.

Synonyms

to harry
vsto henpeck
5 7.6

To bother someone again and again so they feel upset or tired

focuses on criticism and control of a partner rather than general harassment
to domineer
vsto henpeck
1 8.8

To boss other people around and not let them speak

targets a partner with repeated criticism and controlling behavior

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

877 2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

How Controlling

to tyrannize
  • US
2 8.4
to domineer
1 8.8
to boss around
  • Informal
39 4.5
to henpeck
  • Archaic
1 7.8
to nag
  • Informal
65 2.6
to pester
32 3.2

Surface Forms

henpeck infinitive
henpecked past
henpecked past participle
henpecking present participle
henpecks third person singular

Morphology

henpeck = hen + peck (semi-transparent) = hen + peck

The word is built from the familiar image of a hen pecking, but the figurative sense 'nag or domineer' is metaphorical rather than fully literal.

Etymology

Henpeck comes from the same bird image: a hen that pecks, or 'pokes' again and again, so to henpeck someone is to nag or control them constantly.