henpecking

verb

present participle of henpeck
as in nagging
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders my doctor henpecked me into adopting a healthier lifestyle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for henpecking
  1. nagging
  2. hounding
  3. begging
  4. dogging
  5. urging
  6. needling
  7. bothering
  8. badgering
Verb
  • Like having her mom, until the time of her passing during COVID-19, pushing Angélique to eat, nagging her to gain weight.
    — A.D. Amorosi, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
  • To my amazement, within a few weeks, Elizabeth had gotten into the habit of asking nicely instead of nagging.
    — Debby Waldman, Parents, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of nagging
Verb
  • Though some accusations seem to hold water, the headline is his hounding in context.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • McDonnell’s personal circle was also hounding her for repayment.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hounding
Verb
  • By summer, buds cover the plant and, soon, soft, layered blossoms are begging you to cut them for the perfect bouquet.
    — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The lush gardens and private office space provide plenty of scenic options for where to spend your alone time, while the covered patio is practically begging for a dinner party with the entire crew.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of begging
Verb
  • Investors have been ratcheting up their expectations for the industry as some companies hike their outlooks and get a better handle on rising medical costs in those plans – an issue that has been dogging the broader sector for more than two years.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 29 July 2026
  • There is a new solution to a problem that's been dogging the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
    — Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of dogging
Verb
  • One of the jurors who sat through his trial, Mae Puckett, wrote a letter in 2011, urging Alabama to spare Myers’ life.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In May, before any Nvidia employees were linked directly to the scheme, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was highly critical of Supermicro for its failing compliance program, urging that a fix was needed, Tom’s Hardware reported.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of urging
Verb
  • Lestat wants Molloy to tell his side of the story, but Lestat also can’t bear to open up, spending more time needling Molloy than actually engaging with his questions.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 June 2026
  • But as the November election draws closer and Republicans are trying to defend their majorities, Trump is instead needling Congress with his demands and reversals, driving several Republican senators to disparage his actions publicly for the first time.
    — Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Definition of needling
Verb
  • Some interns hesitate to contact their former colleagues for fear of bothering them, but most people are eager to help out young talent.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Contreras rarely takes days off but asked for a day off Sunday with his leg bothering him.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothering
Verb
  • Nine said league members received money they were owed only after badgering him directly, including threatening to expose him publicly or report him to his employer, and even then, some received only partial winnings.
    — Alex Andrejev, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Unlike during Warsh’s first stint at the Fed, the current president has been badgering the central bank for rate cuts.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Definition of badgering
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

henpecked
henpecking
henpecks
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Cite this Entry

“Henpecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/henpecking. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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