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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The period was marked by the dramatic fall from grace of his younger brother, then-Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who admitted to smoking crack cocaine and then was dogged by evidence of a string of other abusive behavior.—
NPR,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025 -
Akey, dogged all night by Legend’s pass rushers, used her pure speed to score the game’s first touchdown, sprinting into the end zone from 7 yards out.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Medvedev has repeatedly needled Trump on social media, and his post today could be an attempt to downplay the peace deal Trump signed.—
Yamiche Alcindor,
NBC news,
14 Oct. 2025
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After nearly a decade of using the sign to needle the beer capital, Anheuser-Busch walked away from the ad and was replaced by Miller Brewing.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This snappy set is begging to be paired with your fave sunglasses to create a mysteriously cool look this fall.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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Nessarose, who uses a wheelchair, is seen levitating after begging Elphaba to wield her magical powers to give her the ability to walk.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Porat closed by urging leaders to really dig in and reimagine what’s possible in their own organizations.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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Anyone with information regarding this incident was urged to contact the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rather than nagging or framing missteps as failures, create initiation rituals that cue the brain to shift into work mode.—
Ana Homayoun,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
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Lozano has had an up-and-down season, limited to 22 starts (out of 34 MLS games) by nagging hamstring injuries, logging nine goals and 10 assists but growing visibly frustrated on the field with incessant fouling by opponents and tactical congestion.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s what bothers me about it.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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The 20-year-old didn’t bother inspecting it further, threw it in the gutter and went on with her day.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hansen Yang – hounded by over a dozen Chinese media members there to chronicle his every move – launched jumpers while Mandarin pop songs blared through the arena.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
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The three did their jobs, hounding the Sabres with persistent physicality all game.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 2025.
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