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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Yet an Associated Press analysis finds that schools beyond the Ivy League are far more likely to benefit from the Pentagon aid, including big online universities and some for-profit colleges that have been dogged by fraud accusations.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026 -
But his tenure has been dogged by controversy.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Eugenio Suárez, from Venezuela, jokingly cheered for Canada to needle his teammates.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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American Olympian Lindsey Vonn fired back at critics who needled her for taking a spot on Team USA despite having a ruptured ACL and later breaking her leg.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Casino operators and tourism officials have traveled North to reassure Canadian leaders, Las Vegas’ mayor publicly begged them to return last year and Las Vegas’ tourism bureau is stepping up advertising in major Canadian markets.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Savannah and her siblings have posted several impassioned pleas to their mother's kidnapper, begging the person to let Nancy go.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The intuitive Moon squares Saturn, pitting your 3rd House of Distractions against your 6th House of Pragmatism, urging specific words, meticulous timing, and sensible boundaries.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
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Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Denmark's energy minister urged citizens of the Scandinavian country to cut back on energy use and ditch cars as the price of oil continues to skyrocket amid the Middle East conflict.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Those kids went home and nagged their parents.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
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Figure out what’s nagging you in the back of your mind.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Up until the past decade or so, food critics seldom bothered to write about casual cafes such as Zip's, instead focusing on the newest shiny-object restaurants in town.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Mar. 2026
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None of that seems to have bothered Trump.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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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Mittelstadt, who has been hounded by high expectations throughout his career due to the Sabres selecting him with the eighth overall pick in 2017, is a bit more reserved than the average, central-casting hockey player.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
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 13 Mar. 2026.
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