PECKED Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

pecked

verb

past tense of peck

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 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

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
That led to a viral moment in a Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game when his teammates were shown chowing down on the turkey provided by Fox, while Montgomery nibbled on a carrot.

— Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2026