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
Relevance
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
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.
Recent Examples of pecking
By the time a new museum renovation has hatched, a successor is already pecking through its shell.
—
Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Except for a few children kicking a ball and some chickens pecking the ground, the village seemed almost deserted.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
After Ohtani faltered, the game was the Blue Jays’ to lose, but the Dodgers kept pecking away.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Choose cloth that is dense enough to prevent the birds from pecking for seeds.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Except for a few children kicking a ball and some chickens pecking the ground, the village seemed almost deserted.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
After Ohtani faltered, the game was the Blue Jays’ to lose, but the Dodgers kept pecking away.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Choose cloth that is dense enough to prevent the birds from pecking for seeds.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking
Verb
-
Most of them spend a decent chunk of time nibbling on beetles, moths, mosquitoes, and the like.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
3 Dec. 2025
-
Fabulous house, wonderful food, 30 companies trolling for dough, a raft of others nibbling and drinking.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Later that month, another jury said Rafael Andres should be sent back to Florida’s Death Row for beating, stabbing and strangling a La Carreta waitress with a rice cooker cord in 2005.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Cincinnati crime fell under the microscope after the viral brawl in July and the stabbing death of an Over-the-Rhine resident and business owner in his own home.—
Scott Wartman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
From the costume-picking process to the crazy disguises stars must wear off camera, keep scrolling for the wildest rules contestants on The Masked Singer must follow.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Other photos show them on the sand with their arms around each other and sharing a kiss, with Tatum picking her up and holding her over his head at one point.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Though none of the celebrity moms in question have publicly spoken about the drama, earlier this week, Koma, whom has also produced several of Duff's songs in the past, shared a meme to his Instagram Story jabbing Tisdale French's piece in The Cut.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Yet the reception was precisely as if Happy Mondays had made a surprise appearance—people jabbing the air, hips swinging with merry abandon, wearing the sort of grins usually observed under bucket hats.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Pinjar thus starts out with Hamida’s disgust, puncturing notions of maternal affection revered in mainstream South Asian (and other) narratives.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When the sun goes down, three beams of light will illuminate the sky over the town that was, piercing the darkness that this time last year was lit with the unholy glow of a fire raging, with no end in sight.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In addition to a new piercing placement, North also wore one of her new Christmas presents, a 106-carat diamond skull pendant that was gifted by mom Kardashian, 45.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Toronto switches, sticking Sandro Mamukelashvili on Sexton.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In the process, Tony becomes somewhat of an antihero by sticking it to corporate America.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the North Miami Police Department, 27-year-old Macksouel Desir was standing outside the residence on NW 7th Avenue early Christmas morning and was spitting on the floor when the victim approached him and told him to stop.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Chalamet and EsDeeKid linked up for a visual, which finds the duo heading from the kitchen to under the stars of a Rolls-Royce Wraith’s backseat, spitting rhymes.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
19 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share