henpecked
Nagged into submission
Henpecked describes a man whose wife constantly nags, criticizes, or dominates him: a henpecked husband.
The image is of a hen pecking at a smaller bird.
The word is old-fashioned and carries sexist assumptions about marriage dynamics, but remains in use for men seen as submissive to their wives.
Kept within limits
- subjugatedBrought under control
- oppressedTreated with cruel control
- bossedExercised authority over
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
overpowered · undermined · dictated · coerced · manipulated · constrained · restricted · ruled
Complained repeatedly at someone
- badgeredPersistently pressured someone
- pesteredAnnoyed with persistence
- harassedPersistently tormented
- beratedScolded severely at length
scolded · harangued · criticized · chided · carped · nitpicked · complained · hectored
Humbly unassertive
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
- passiveNot actively participating
yielding · acquiescent · subdued · timid · unassertive · deferential · subservient · spineless
controlled
Kept within limits
- subjugatedBrought under control
- oppressedTreated with cruel control
- bossedExercised authority over
dominated · overpowered · undermined · dictated · coerced · manipulated · constrained · restricted · ruled · managed
nagged
Complained repeatedly at someone
- badgeredPersistently pressured someone
- pesteredAnnoyed with persistence
- harassedPersistently tormented
berated · scolded · harangued · criticized · chided · carped · nitpicked · complained · hectored · needled
meek
Humbly unassertive
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
passive · yielding · acquiescent · subdued · timid · unassertive · deferential · subservient · spineless · mild
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, jailbird
- farm idiomsmake hay while the sun shines, cream of the crop, put the cart before the horse, till the cows come home, buy the farm
- gender stereotypesboys will be boys, pink for girls, blue for boys, man up, strong men
- pushoverspushover, doormat, wimp, weakling, milquetoast
henpeckeddomineering
Aggressively asserting control
dominating · controlling · overbearing · tyrannical · bossy
henpeckedassertive
Confidently self-assured
self-assertive · forceful · dominant · macho · aggressive
- henpecked husbandMan dominated by wife