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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Inflation continued to dog shoppers last month, as consumers were forced to shoulder more of the cost of President Trump's tariffs.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
12 Aug. 2025 -
The plant has a long history of pollution concerns In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution.—
Marc Levy,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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South Park is continuing to needle Donald Trump and his administration as Season 27 continues.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
20 Aug. 2025
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The Ukrainian leader also wore more formal attire, something that did not go unnoticed by pro-Trump reporter Brian Glenn, who in February needled Zelensky for his lack of a suit.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … 'DON’T DO IT' – 'The View' host begs music legend to snub Trump's Kennedy Center honor.—
,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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His home run in Milwaukee last October likely kept him in a Mets uniform this season, with the fans begging the club to sign their homegrown hero.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ahead of his meeting with Putin, Trump met on Aug. 13 virtually with Zelenskyy and leaders of European countries who have urged Trump not to capitulate to Putin's demands during his solo meeting.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
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Morales, who is barred from running due to term limits, has urged supporters to cast blank votes — a move seen by many as an attempt to undermine Senate President Andrónico Rodríguez, who is running independently under the Popular Alliance banner.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Editor’s Note: Is anything ailing, torturing, or nagging at you?—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
12 Aug. 2025
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Hamstring injuries tend to nag on a lot longer than expected, too.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There are many players who let criticism bother them, and that’s bad for you, your teammates and people around you.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
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Passive-aggressive people rarely tell you exactly what’s bothering them.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Opponents will hound Kawamura at the point of attack and attempt to corral him with length.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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The question has hounded the Houston Astros across an 81-game stretch defined by attrition, yet still defying expectations.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
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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 25 Aug. 2025.
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