1
as in nibbling
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 stabbing
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 pecking
Choose cloth that is dense enough to prevent the birds from pecking for seeds.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking
Verb
-
As Noack played, people stood overlooking the valley with wine glasses in hand or sat barefoot in the grass, nibbling on olives and cheese.—
Elena Valeriote,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Cape Cod potato chips were served as a light, crunchy snack, ideal for nibbling between games or mingling.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The video shows Brown seated behind the victim before pulling out a folding knife and stabbing her multiple times without provocation.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Around four minutes later, the man pulls out a knife and begins stabbing Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gunn starts jabbing his fingers into Corenswet’s chest.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Just jabbing people in the eye with a stick for the pleasure of it.—
Elizabeth Kaye Cook
August 6,
Literary Hub,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Both are solid options in their own ways, and picking one would no doubt harm the other.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
-
After more than an hour on the road, the team arrived at a cluster of trailers behind a long dirt path on a grower’s property in South Haven, tight quarters where farmworkers rest after long-hour shifts picking fruit under the Michigan sun.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wi-Fi 7's puncturing capability is designed to isolate the interference, enabling devices to use the remainder of the channel.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
-
These posts implicitly criticize the government by puncturing its narrative of economic progress.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Iniki is the Hawaiian word for sharp and piercing wind.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That alone is amazing, said Timbrook, Depue and a representative for the soft body armor vest that stopped a bullet from piercing the officer’s chest.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wednesday confronts Bianca, who is bewildered about her Siren-song not sticking; Wednesday is taking control of things now and Bianca needs to trust her.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
-
What was sticking closer to home in roles about?—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Leagues Cup and MLS handed down sanctions following the Leagues Cup post-game brawl between Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders, and the Luis Suarez spitting incident postgame.—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
-
While saliva is your best friend during a blow job, there’s a more ladylike way to perform without spitting.—
Ian Kumamoto,
Them.,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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