as in hungry
feeling a desire or need for food
I think I'll have a snack before we go, as I'm feeling a bit peckish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 peckish
On his delivery routes, Bridges drinks from a flask to keep hydrated, and catches and eats bugs when peckish.
—
Simon Parkin, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
The teeny cut-outs look like the work of a very polite, hungry goldfish or maybe a peckish guinea pig.
—Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 3 Feb. 2025
The miniature sandwich felt more appropriate for a kids meal or someone feeling peckish.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2024
Those feeling peckish while looking at the view can order small plates, salads, sandwiches, a sweet treat, or a cheese and honey plate stacked with Anatolian cheeses.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024
After enough pressure, an unfortunately peckish wolf might get a mouthful of foul-tasting blood instead.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023
Feeling peckish and looking for a nice, homey place to have a bite to eat?
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2022
Simon Parkin, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
The teeny cut-outs look like the work of a very polite, hungry goldfish or maybe a peckish guinea pig.
—Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 3 Feb. 2025
The miniature sandwich felt more appropriate for a kids meal or someone feeling peckish.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2024
Those feeling peckish while looking at the view can order small plates, salads, sandwiches, a sweet treat, or a cheese and honey plate stacked with Anatolian cheeses.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024
After enough pressure, an unfortunately peckish wolf might get a mouthful of foul-tasting blood instead.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023
Feeling peckish and looking for a nice, homey place to have a bite to eat?
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peckish
hungry
Adjective
-
Going into the weekend, the expectation was that McLaren would dominate, given the high temperatures in Austin and the tire-hungry demands of COTA, previously noteworthy strengths for the team over its competitors.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Change Halloween to the Fourth of July and a relentless maniac to a hungry shark, and Steven Spielberg's iconic blockbuster might as well be a seabound slasher.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Peckish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peckish. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share