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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Then he was dogged by rumors that his Netflix road-trip docuseries with former One Direction mate Louis Tomlinson went belly-up because the two got into a verbal and then physical argument that tanked the show.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 May 2026 -
For Swift, the criticism that dogged her career ultimately sparked some of her biggest hits.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yang was critical of TKO’s handling of the Las Vegas event, which took place last week at Allegiant Stadium for the second straight year and needled the company over the recent wave of WWE departures.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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After injectable GLP-1s soared in popularity in recent years, the introduction of oral versions is seen as a way to expand the market to needle-adverse patients.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Several visiting unaffiliated curators, who would not go on the record for this story with quotes, begged for more cohesion.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
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Most regular folks, including the thousands of fans streaming into Quail Hollow Thursday, would beg to differ.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
Verb
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But Sam Schoenburg, a member of the 19th Police District Council, also on the North Side, urged aldermen to move ahead with the vote.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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While there have been no reports of illness, authorities urge people to contact a health care provider for any concerns.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Verb
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That’s likely welcome news to educators around the country battling a growing attention crisis in classrooms some attribute to constantly nagging smart electronic devices.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
29 Apr. 2026
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The milquetoast nature of the statement — with its measured language and nonexistent call to action — and the broader absence of real accountability have nagged at me for weeks.—
Uzma Rentia,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There were other stories that bothered him more, like a post by a writer who recounted a chaste one-night stand with Tea Party activist and Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell that described her pubic hair.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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However, in the wild, the algae are the ocean’s introverts, and only glow when they are bothered, like jolted by a crashing wave or the hull of a passing boat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy botched an uncontested breakout pass, and Tage Thompson hounded Fraser Minten to force a turnover.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The team has been rocked by a rash of red cards and hounded by both injuries and inconsistent play.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 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 9 May. 2026.
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