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
And the Warriors had established a clear pecking order that could vary game-to-game but largely remained the same.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
But basketball tops Baker’s pecking order.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Who exactly is on that list for Team Canada, how many players are on that list and the exact pecking order is publicly unclear.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury last spring moved Brown to the top of the team’s pecking order, and Boston has overachieved thus far on his watch, sitting third in the Eastern Conference at 18-11.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
But basketball tops Baker’s pecking order.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Who exactly is on that list for Team Canada, how many players are on that list and the exact pecking order is publicly unclear.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury last spring moved Brown to the top of the team’s pecking order, and Boston has overachieved thus far on his watch, sitting third in the Eastern Conference at 18-11.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking order
Noun
-
Connecticut, unfortunately, has carved out its own niche in the lowest efficiency quadrant of this hierarchy.—
Lou Rinaldi,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Their hierarchy simply wasn’t ever going to support the manager to the level required.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In general the editors gave it a low ranking, citing a lack of flavor and a strong aftertaste.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But one recent prospect ranking dropped an Elly comparison onto a teenager buried deep in the Phillies’ farm system.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pecking order.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking%20order. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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