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pecked (at)

verb

past tense of peck (at)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecked (at)
  1. urged
  2. begged
Verb
  • In a letter to Defence Minister Luke Pollard this week, 18 MPs and one member of the House of Lords urged the government to stop using bear pelts sourced from legal culls in Canada and instead adopt faux-fur alternatives.
    — James Frater, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Critics of the deal urged Bonta and other state attorneys general to resist pressure to reach a settlement that would allow Ellison’s deal to move forward.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of urged
Verb
  • Officers tried to move him to another cell, but the other men begged them not to, saying his song and prayer put their minds at ease.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
  • During a bizarre San Diego break-in, a golden retriever who lives at the home begged the prowler to play.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of begged
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.

Browse Nearby Words

pecked
pecked (at)
pecker
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Cite this Entry

“Pecked (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecked%20%28at%29. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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