pecked

past tense of peck
1
as in nibbled
to eat reluctantly and in small bites found out that fashion models never really eat—they just peck at small meals in expensive restaurants

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pecked Pelicans swooped overhead and night herons, with spiky yellow feathers flying from their heads, goofily pecked the grass for insects. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026 As Cadeau pecked his way through the blue-and-maize confetti littering the court, Justin did a quick change. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026 Standing right behind the decoy, the bird cautiously sized up George, pecked him on the head, then jumped and used his spurs to knock George to the ground. Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026 The muscular gizzard contains grit pecked up from the chicken’s ground feeding, which is used to crush up the chicken’s food. Josh Miller, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026 The two teams faced off again on Sunday, and once again, the Birds pecked Kansas City, this time in a three-point victory. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecked
Verb
  • Kikuko, her appetite sluggish, nibbled the bread bit by bit from the edges, all the while furtively watching her father.
    Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Threatened by the lack of water and nibbled by starving livestock, the trees that once formed a dense forest in the Somali region of Ethiopia are in danger, locals say.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After being stabbed in the ass by Northmen Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan), Ulf’s (Tom Bennett) dragon suddenly roars in from above and takes them both out in a giant ball of fire.
    Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Kailey Erhart, 22, stabbed her 5-month-old and 3-year-old children to death on Thursday after waving a gun at her estranged husband and threatening to kill herself, according to police.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • People didn’t buy the Old Hollywood Grande of the early 2020s; her headlines punctured the wholesome façade.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Images of Russian delivery warehouses and refineries ablaze have punctured the veneer of safety Moscow has tried to maintain four years into the war.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • More than 180 bullets pierced, cracked or shattered windows in six buildings on campus.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Eight thick stone legs support a circular tower pierced by arched openings.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu jabbed back against the prevailing narrative yesterday, saying she was never invited to participate in the WNBA’s 3-point contest this weekend.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Two of the points on the rear treble hook were jabbed deeply into the flesh on the outside of the pike’s mouth.
    Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Later that day, her most devout followers rented a fleet of RVs, picked Didulo up from her apartment, and began driving across the country.
    Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The group quickly grew at home and received attention from beyond — in its first year running, Futsi was picked to host the International Street Football Association’s Northern California regional qualifier for its inaugural World Cup tournament.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Her crippling impostor syndrome was a feature, not a bug — we were stuck there with her for at least two seasons.
    Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The result has been a prolonged low-hire, low-fire job market that’s left many workers of all ages stuck in limbo.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pecked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecked. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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