variants
also peck orders
as in rankings
the way in which people or things in a group or organization are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status
As an assistant manager, he was pretty low in the company's pecking order.
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Recent Examples of pecking orders
From playoff pecking orders to division title tiebreakers to how the NFC South can be won (or lost) in only two games instead of four, Fowler and Kaye break it all down for the Carolina faithful.
—
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking orders
Noun
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Texas dominated many national rankings in the report as well, with the ZIP code encompassing the Dallas suburb of Crandall ranking second on the list and a more urban Dallas ZIP code ranking 10th.—
Faith Bugenhagen,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Lamar’s win was widely celebrated as a milestone for hip-hop and contemporary music, challenging long-standing hierarchies that had treated hip-hop (and other popular genres) as outsiders.—
Kara Rogers Britannica Editors Apr. 10,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
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Flattened hierarchies also disrupt traditional career progression in ways that are only beginning to surface in the data.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Beyond reactions from both fans and critics, other fast food chains — including Burger King and Wendy’s — were quick to take advantage of Kempczinski’s viral moment.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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But there’s been a remarkable shift in the country’s restaurant landscape, with fast casual and fast food chains posting record-breaking growth in recent years.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pecking orders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking%20orders. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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