as in picked 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
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecked (at)
Verb
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The 26-year-old has been Arsenal’s captain since the summer of 2022, but in August, Adams urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to strip the Norway international of the Arsenal captaincy and hand the role to Declan Rice.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025 -
Chad Bauman, executive director at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, urged the committee to reject the funding allocations in the hopes of obtaining more money for the theater company.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point, older brother Jason, an NFL player himself by then, called Jones and begged him to give Kelce another chance.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
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Rusev set up the steel chair in the turnbuckle as Sheamus begged Rusev to kick him.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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“Pecked (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecked%20%28at%29. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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