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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Even shoppers nibbling on a slice of pizza seemed to be mocking him.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
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But now social media is eating media-media’s lunch, nibbling into time that used to be spent watching TV and movies, particularly for younger generations, and refashioning itself less as a network and more as a broadcaster.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Usiripalli is accused of stabbing two 17-year-old boys, one in the shoulder area and one in the back of the head, with the same metal fork while on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt on Saturday, according to the news release.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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No information on the stabbing party has been released.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To their right, a woman raised her hand, jabbing her index finger forward and shouting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
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Fans have speculated that Ice and Cardi have been jabbing at one another.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Reid had come to Music City like so many guitar-picking hopefuls.—
Keith Sharon,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
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Here is who 55 national experts are picking to win the game.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a separate case in February, five Israeli reservists were charged over the beating and stabbing of a detainee, accused in an indictment of breaking the man’s ribs, puncturing his lung and tearing his rectum.—
Daniele Hamamdjian,
NBC news,
18 Oct. 2025
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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.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While the mother-daughter duo were out in Rome in September, the Kardashians star was criticized for letting North wear a dermal piercing on her middle finger.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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The current Gators football era is reaching an ear-piercing crescendo.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And the cozy Walker's Point restaurant — plus cooking school, plus event space — has been going strong since, sticking strong to its mission to support local farmers in every season.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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And yet, hiring a college coach to manage means sticking your neck out in a way that no top baseball executive ever has.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some of the feedback included concern over a scene involving DiCaprio and Winslet's characters, Jack and Rose, spitting off the side of the ship as the two's friendship begins to unfold.—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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However, the Eagles still managed to hold the Dallas Cowboys to 20 points in their regular-season opening victory, a game Carter missed after being disqualified for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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