as in picks at
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders
kept pecking at their prodigal daughter to get off the couch and to start looking for a job
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecks (at)
Verb
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The idea that dogs graze to purge a sick stomach is one of the explanations owners reach for most.—
Niranjana Rajalakshmi,
Popular Science,
4 June 2026 -
The baby dogs will then be forced to play soccer to the death.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The Bay Area Host Committee urges drivers to plan for extra time and heavy congestion before and after matches.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
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The city urges residents to report coyote sightings by calling 3-1-1 or making a report online.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Mercury’s clash with Neptune begs you to hold off on signing on the dotted line.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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While Huang may be doing his best to share Nvidia’s profits with its employees, the much wider picture begs the question of how massive investments into AI might reinforce existing wealth inequality.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Verb
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But in the final moments, when Carol is back in her coach seat on the plane, something nags at her.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Velvet Gang needles the outraged Christie ever so.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
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As Thea’s former suitor, Tesman struggles to call her by her married name, a slip of the tongue that Hedda constantly needles him about.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Pecks (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecks%20%28at%29. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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