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
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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
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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
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Advertisement Advertisement Adolescence, a series about a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller (Cooper), who is arrested because he’s accused of stabbing a female classmate, racked up 13 Emmy nominations this year.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
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The homeless felon accused of stabbing a young Ukrainian commuter to death on a Charlotte light rail train comes from a household where run-ins with the law have been a way of life.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Daniel yells after jabbing his net into the bank.—
Wesley Bruer,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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Gunn starts jabbing his fingers into Corenswet’s chest.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But a growing number of people seem to be picking the team to finish first in the AFC West.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Prices vary based on color and size, but shoppers will score the biggest discounts when picking them up in Portman’s exact mushroom shade.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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These posts implicitly criticize the government by puncturing its narrative of economic progress.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Iniki is the Hawaiian word for sharp and piercing wind.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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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
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And sticking close to home may pay untold dividends for inhabitants’ mental health, Gorman said.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Have fun sticking it to the man—or the raccoon, as the case may be.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 18 Sep. 2025.
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