variants
also peck order
as in hierarchy
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 order
The busy schedule, and Goepper’s pecking order in the group, wore on his psyche.
—
Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
As the Panthers work to set up their draft board in the coming weeks, the college scouting department’s findings will greatly impact the pecking order.
—Mike Kaye
february 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026
This has led to a broader shift in the innovation pecking order.
—Oisín Hanrahan, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
When compared to Mass General Brigham, owner of Massachusetts’ two biggest hospitals, Beth Israel’s place in the pecking order was always clear.
—Jessica Bartlett — Boston Globe, STAT, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
As the Panthers work to set up their draft board in the coming weeks, the college scouting department’s findings will greatly impact the pecking order.
—Mike Kaye
february 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026
This has led to a broader shift in the innovation pecking order.
—Oisín Hanrahan, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
When compared to Mass General Brigham, owner of Massachusetts’ two biggest hospitals, Beth Israel’s place in the pecking order was always clear.
—Jessica Bartlett — Boston Globe, STAT, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking order
Noun
-
This match could offer the clearest early indicator of where SDFC stands in the Western Conference hierarchy.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Tottenham Hotspur’s hierarchy entered the January window with a decision to make.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each writer’s personal ranking will appear in parentheses next to their name.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In banked slalom, athletes get two individual runs down the course with their best time counting toward the final ranking.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pecking order.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking%20order. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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