as in to pick at
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders
kept pecking at their prodigal daughter to get off the couch and to start looking for a job
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peck (at)
Verb
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But, alas, Skip Schumaker’s first Rangers win came with the same kind of questions that dogged Bruce Bochy the last three years.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026 -
The community is welcome to volunteer, shelter officials said, and can plan field trips to local parks (not dog parks for safety), for hikes or to just wander and window shop.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Johnson could have needled Woods about their windy Sunday stroll at Augusta in ’07, when Johnson trailed Stuart Appleby by two strokes, and Woods by one, heading into the last round in which Johnson’s 69 produced another slice of history.—
Jay Paris,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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The pair began to exchange words early in the second half, cracking the type of crooked smiles that hardly concealed the competitiveness driving both players to chirp and ridicule and needle one another on both ends of the court.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These questions linger as Ion goes about his day, looking for work, begging for change, and scarfing down a meal—moments that flash by in quick, propulsive blips.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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White denim absolutely begs for a smart partner underneath.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a statement, the Stop Aurora Pit Bull Ban Team, a group that advocated for repealing the city's breed-specific ban, urged caution in drawing conclusions about the incident.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Millions of citizens across Europe have been urged to work from home and drive less amid the energy crisis caused by the Iran war.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cherono nagged the Marathon Chase and a $10,000 bonus.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Those kids went home and nagged their parents.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At Brookhurst and Magnolia streets, construction was stopped so nearby birds that were nesting weren’t bothered.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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Throughout the day, jot down any worries that are bothering you, particularly the ones that keep popping up.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This disparity continues to hound a league where the majority of the players are Black, but the coaches and front office decision makers are not.—
Mac Engel
March 30,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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His instincts, like his techniques, are relentlessly up-to-the-minute; Orsolya is hounded by not only her guilty conscience but also the demons of social media.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Peck (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peck%20%28at%29. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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