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
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
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.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Smith lived in Brownsville, less than a mile from where he was stabbed, according to cops.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Activist tied to Oprah, Biden stabbed in ambush, mom slain; suspect nabbed.—
,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The hero worship was eventually punctured, though, and in the nineteenth century Leonardo and Michelangelo would become the twin heads of Renaissance art genius.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The scissors work great, but because the props team punctured the uterus to assist in the incision, the amniotic liquid started leaking out, seeping into the prosthetic torso Wolf is strapped into.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nikki is tall, pierced, and punk rock; her pink hair is shaved down the sides and forms a floppy mohawk up top.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2026
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The Cook County medical examiner’s office found that the fatal shot pierced Rivera’s skin near her left armpit and traveled through both her lungs, wedging itself in her ribs, autopsy records show.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The casting director playfully jabbed Anderson in her acceptance speech, referencing the filmmaker's 14 career Oscar nominations without a victory.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Newly opened Fowlescombe Farm, a 450-acre estate in south Devon, England, where Tamworth piglets and Manx Loaghtan sheep roam free and wildflowers are encouraged to be picked, lures guests with the promise of slow living.—
Jen Murphy,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
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If the stem is still attached or the scar looks jagged and raised, the fruit was likely picked too early and may not be as sweet.—
Sheela Prakash,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Train 98, part of the Silver Meteor route between Miami and New York, was forced to stop near Jacksonville, leaving some passengers stuck onboard for extended periods.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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This is what a supply shortage looks like in practice — not just higher prices, but households stuck in between, unsure which path to pursue.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pecked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecked. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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