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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peck (at)
Verb
-
Service dogs that bark excessively must be taken out of the facility.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026 -
In a nearly 10-minute long video, Pratt repeated social media posts that dogs on Skid Row are used to test drugs, are bred for drug money and are left in poor conditions by their unhoused owners, among other concerns about overcrowded, dirty shelters across the city.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
By contrast, Trump is being needled almost weekly by Tillis and other GOP senators whose chattiness with the press has drawn the ire of the president.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
-
The Velvet Gang needles the outraged Christie ever so.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
My brothers-in-law and their spouses give their parents only limited amounts of time on holidays and limited physical assistance to their parents only if my husband begs for help.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
-
While Plymouth, Massachusetts, likes to take credit for the first Thanksgiving, for example, local history experts beg to differ.—
Amy Galo,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The pair also urged the clinic to disclose any discrepancies in parentage.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
-
A smoke advisory was issued for a broad swath of East Los Angeles, with members of the public urged to limit outdoor exercise and those with health issues to remain indoors.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
But his promise to visit Bolduc’s widow nagged at him.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
-
That process, too, has nagged at her confidence and her resolve.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
People can decide for themselves whether Wembanyama’s anthem conduct bothers them.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
But at the same time, the people that are bothering me are showing us love.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Goldberg, on the other hand, hounded Freedman with questions, asking about every material used in every step of the process.—
Jesse Armas,
Curbed,
16 June 2026
-
Even Arnett recounted a moment where she was hounded by photographers on her way to the Monster-in-Law set, only contributing to her level of stress.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Peck (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peck%20%28at%29. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
