as in to dog
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders
my doctor henpecked me into adopting a healthier lifestyle
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Recent Examples of henpeck
Laurent Naouri was gravelly but properly pathetic as Cendrillon’s henpecked father; Ying Fang and Maya Lahyani carried off the goofy stepsisters with aplomb.
—
Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2018
He eventually is seduced by the queen, takes her as his czarina and is literally henpecked.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 8 Aug. 2017
Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2018
He eventually is seduced by the queen, takes her as his czarina and is literally henpecked.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 8 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for henpeck
Verb
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But what Mom noticed most were the thoughtful touches—yoga mats in the closet, dogs padding through the lobby of this pet-friendly property, bikes ready for guests to explore.—
Lisa A. Beach,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
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Stocks had a rough session Friday on the worries about AI hurting the economy that have been dogging the market for weeks.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This type of slippage would ordinarily nag at me.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, Musk launched a competitive AI firm called xAI, but his feelings over the fallout with Altman nagged at him.—
Tom Dotan,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When Hyacinth flounces off to check the hall, Eloise hot on her trail, Sophie begs for a moment of Violet’s time.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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The actor, who stepped back from the limelight of late, teared up as director Michel Gondry recalled their collaboration on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and looked touched when actor Emmanuel Curtil, who is the official French voice of Carrey, begged him not to leave the profession.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This is where the tension between the agency and legislators comes from, as lawmakers are urging a faster shift.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
26 Feb. 2026
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This is the second year Lamont has urged the General Assembly to fund universal free breakfast.—
Sara Bedigian,
Hartford Courant,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The person who should have been most upset, Acuña, didn’t seem at all bothered.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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Given their locations, having a Chinese company operating them has long bothered the United States.—
Alma Solís,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Duff’s rise to fame coincided with the peak of early-2000s tabloid culture that hounded stars like Britney Spears.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
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Democrats are hounding the president and other Republicans on affordability, an issue that resonates with voters.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Eugenio Suárez, from Venezuela, jokingly cheered for Canada to needle his teammates.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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American Olympian Lindsey Vonn fired back at critics who needled her for taking a spot on Team USA despite having a ruptured ACL and later breaking her leg.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Henpeck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/henpeck. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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