1
as in nibbling
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 stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
the bird continued to peck the suet cake intently
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pecking
That process involves collecting acorns and then pecking small holes in trees where they are stored for winter use.
—
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
The canine doesn't react in fear; the pup leans farther over the edge of the boat to get a closer look at the sizable creatures, almost pecking the whales on their massive mouths.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
By the time a new museum renovation has hatched, a successor is already pecking through its shell.
—Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Except for a few children kicking a ball and some chickens pecking the ground, the village seemed almost deserted.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
After Ohtani faltered, the game was the Blue Jays’ to lose, but the Dodgers kept pecking away.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Choose cloth that is dense enough to prevent the birds from pecking for seeds.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
The canine doesn't react in fear; the pup leans farther over the edge of the boat to get a closer look at the sizable creatures, almost pecking the whales on their massive mouths.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
By the time a new museum renovation has hatched, a successor is already pecking through its shell.
—Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Except for a few children kicking a ball and some chickens pecking the ground, the village seemed almost deserted.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
After Ohtani faltered, the game was the Blue Jays’ to lose, but the Dodgers kept pecking away.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Choose cloth that is dense enough to prevent the birds from pecking for seeds.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking
Verb
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Our fellow guests were all seated at garden tables, nibbling sandwiches cut into little triangles and sipping from fancy teacups.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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This is an inexpensive and simple way to deter nibbling animals.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mohammed Ahmad Hussein al-Halsi was sentenced in 2016 to 18 years behind bars for stabbing elderly women.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Another Jefferson County circuit judge, Jessica Green, last year drew local and national criticism after granting shock probation to a 32-year-old man accused of abducting a mother and two children and stabbing the mother during a bank robbery.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That’s impressive for a rebuilding team, but is anyone picking the Ducks over the Oilers in a playoff series?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Only Nick Brinkerhoff is picking the Seahawks to win in blowout fashion, by a score of 34-17.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mourinho shot off down the touchline, fingers jabbing the air, hugging a ballboy in jubilation.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Though none of the celebrity moms in question have publicly spoken about the drama, earlier this week, Koma, whom has also produced several of Duff's songs in the past, shared a meme to his Instagram Story jabbing Tisdale French's piece in The Cut.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Testing is also challenging, as finding a leak requires puncturing the spinal canal, which can create new leaks.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
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The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Even better, Liu does it all while flaunting her signature bleached halo-dye hairstyle and smiley piercing.—
Jasmine Wynn,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
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Her diamond dermal piercing was the perfect finishing touch for the emo girl-lite moment.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some sounds could indicate structural changes, so keep an eye on wall cracks and look out for sticking doors and windows.—
Jessica Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The goal was to give the family’s embryo—Guojun’s sperm and an anonymous donor’s egg—the best odds of sticking during the transfer, which was scheduled for July at Western Fertility Institute, a clinic in Los Angeles.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The music video interposes clips of a nation on fire—thieves and looters running rampant, protesters spitting in cops’ faces—with footage of Aldean and his band playing in front of a courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, vowing to deliver justice.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
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American consumers and small businesses alike are spitting fire these days about the cost of credit cards, while the companies profiting from them are making money hand over fist.—
Carter Dougherty,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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