1
as in nibbled
to eat reluctantly and in small bites
found out that fashion models never really eat—they just peck at small meals in expensive restaurants
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
the bird continued to peck the suet cake intently
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Recent Examples of pecked
The two teams faced off again on Sunday, and once again, the Birds pecked Kansas City, this time in a three-point victory.
—
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecked
Verb
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Orange-and-white clown fish peered from rust-red anemones; neon-green parrotfish nibbled at bubblegum-pink brain coral.—
Susan Casey,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The two leopards chased each other through the leaves and even nibbled on a few.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Shot a bunch of times in the stomach, twice in the head, stabbed in the arm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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But the couple's elderly dog was inside the apartment and was stabbed between the eyes, authorities said.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The episode has punctured Preckwinkle’s reputation for managerial skill — a primary reason this page has endorsed her in previous elections despite some disagreements with other aspects of her record.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
One of the bullets struck Boyd in the abdomen, traveled through his body, and ultimately punctured one of his lungs.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The bullet pierced Ramseur’s arm and entered his chest through his side.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The steppe is sand pierced by grasses and little pale flowers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An agent in Massachusetts jabbed his finger and thumb into the neck and arteries of a young father who refused to be separated from his wife and 1-year-old daughter.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
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As Webster repeatedly jabbed his finger, Rathbun met it with his left hand, as if trying to swat him away.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The visitors picked their way across the rocky coastline, waving at the Islanders to move back and make space.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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McKinsey found that disciplined prioritization delivers 40% more value—not because leaders picked better priorities, but because the organization had room to absorb them.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With all this ice, barges get stuck.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Cold temperatures that stuck in Iowa for over a week will continue, but will not be as frigid, forecasts show.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pecked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecked. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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