henpecked; henpecking; henpecks
: to subject (one's spouse or partner) to persistent nagging and domination
Examples of henpeck in a Sentence
my doctor henpecked me into adopting a healthier lifestyle
Recent Examples on the Web
Laurent Naouri was gravelly but properly pathetic as Cendrillon’s henpecked father; Ying Fang and Maya Lahyani carried off the goofy stepsisters with aplomb.
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Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2018
Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'henpeck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1671, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near henpeck
Cite this Entry
“Henpeck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/henpeck. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
henpeck
verb
hen·peck
ˈhen-ˌpek 
: to nag and boss one's spouse
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