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
as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
the bird continued to peck the suet cake intently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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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
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
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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.
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For years, not having enough money nibbled at my aunt’s health.
Verb
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Two men were stabbed as the crowds scattered, and there were several accounts of violence between fans, as well as police tackling and pepper-spraying people in a chaotic scene.
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Police said Chiturumani, the girl’s non-custodial father, allegedly stabbed the child’s mother and threatened to kill the child.
Verb
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Watt had his lung punctured by the medical staff last season and will turn 32 in October.
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But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).
Verb
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Lower the heat to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are just slightly tender when pierced with a fork or knife.
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First responders found the woman conscious and alert after an umbrella stake pierced her shoulder.
Verb
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And now, 44 years on, new generations of Villa fans could also cherish the moment when Buendia’s cross was jabbed in from close range by Morgan Rogers for the third, ensuring every Brummie in Istanbul could relax and soak in the game’s final 30 minutes.
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The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed.
Verb
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The Seattle Mariners were one of the teams that most people picked to win the World Series, or at least make a deep run into the playoffs.
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Mengel, who has directed such drama series as My Different Ways and Supplex, and his creative collaborators will bring The Guest to the Czech spa town as the first Danish film picked for Karlovy Vary’s Crystal Globe Competition since 2015.
Verb
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Twenty-seven people were inside the building, two of whom got stuck before ultimately freeing themselves and exiting the building.
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When the rope broke, three people fell 30 to 40 feet to the beach, and the other three were stuck halfway up the cliff.
Cite this Entry
“Pecked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecked. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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