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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Redzepi had been dogged for years by reports of mistreating his staff and employing unpaid interns at Noma, which received three Michelin stars and was ranked first on the World's 50 Best Restaurants List five times.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026 -
Redzepi had been dogged for years by reports of mistreating his staff and employing unpaid interns at Noma, which received three Michelin stars and was ranked first on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List five times.—
Laurie Kellman,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Russia is needling Ukraine’s European allies with asymmetrical warfare – sabotage and cyberattacks – to perhaps provoke a wider conflict while imposing costs.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The main street that intercepts the end of my block is tree-lined and buzzing, with generous sidewalks, gleaming (and respected) crosswalks, and wide windowscapes just begging to be strolled and observed.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Mayor Brandon Johnson surely is looking from afar with envy, having begged Springfield for three years with no success to pass such taxes.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Liberal Democrat lawmaker Liam McArthur, who drew up the Scottish bill, had urged colleagues to back it.—
JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
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San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno urged the city to remove his name from all city properties and holidays.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Mar. 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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That didn’t bother the three roaches crawling on the floor by a carbon dioxide tank inside the storage room behind the office.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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Other clips don’t even bother rendering a proper baby.—
Joe Wilkins Published Mar 12,
Futurism,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the moment, Mayci is too worn out from her book tour, being post-partum, getting hounded by her publicist, and failing to keep Taylor out of Dakota’s bed to confront Jessi about this, which Jacob views as just more of his advice that Mayci refuses to follow.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, the individuals in question continue hounding her for autographs and photos.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 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 19 Mar. 2026.
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