transitive verb. To dominate or harass (someone, usually a man) with persistent nagging.

To rule or keep in subjection by superior force of will or assaults of ill temper; domineer over: said of a wife who thus rules her husband.

noun. The rule or control of a husband by his wife; henpecking.

transitive verb. To bother persistently with trivial complaints; to subject to petty authority; -- said of a woman who thus treats her male companion, especially of wives who thus dominate their husbands. Commonly used in the past participle (often adjectively).

verb. To nag persistently.

verb. bother persistently with trivial complaints

"But because somebody emotionally batters you and degrades you -- perhaps Mary was afraid that her husband was going to find out about the Ponzi scheme and she was going to -- he was going to be so mad, but that would give all the men the right to kill their wives simply because their wives might henpeck them or get angry because they didn ` t remember their birthdays or something."

hen-peck  

henpecked  

complain  kick  kvetch  plain  quetch  

beat down  break  browbeat  bug  bulldoze  

henpecked  henpecking  henpecks