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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pecking
There Are No Foolproof Methods No single technique will completely prevent birds from pecking on your fruits.
—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
Nyjer thistle seeds are also very small, and many birds will love pecking them off the sides or roof of your edible birdhouse.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 May 2026
The siblings have been caught pecking and pushing each other during a feeding session.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
Choose cloth that is dense enough to prevent the birds from pecking for seeds.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
The scene is right out of the 1950s with students pecking away at manual typewriters, the machines dinging at the end of each line.
—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Our guy is just pecking away at his little typewriter or writing his memories in longhand.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
The lead stretched to 12 early in the third quarter, but slowly and painfully for Parker, the hosts, with Archer attacking the glass, kept pecking away.
—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Still, Lamb said lovebirds, like other parrots, can sometimes be violent with each other, screaming and pecking one another with beaks powerful enough to crack open seeds.
—
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
Nyjer thistle seeds are also very small, and many birds will love pecking them off the sides or roof of your edible birdhouse.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 May 2026
The siblings have been caught pecking and pushing each other during a feeding session.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
Choose cloth that is dense enough to prevent the birds from pecking for seeds.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
The scene is right out of the 1950s with students pecking away at manual typewriters, the machines dinging at the end of each line.
—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Our guy is just pecking away at his little typewriter or writing his memories in longhand.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
The lead stretched to 12 early in the third quarter, but slowly and painfully for Parker, the hosts, with Archer attacking the glass, kept pecking away.
—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Still, Lamb said lovebirds, like other parrots, can sometimes be violent with each other, screaming and pecking one another with beaks powerful enough to crack open seeds.
—
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking
Verb
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While nibbling deer and pesky rodents might require one approach, something else, like snakes, will require another.
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Other snaps saw the Selena actress lounging in silk pajamas, celebrating her kids' graduations, eating a huge croissant, nibbling on a chocolate bar in bed, and posing for a selfie on a couch.
Verb
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The film centers on a New York murder trial where a teenage boy is accused of stabbing his abusive dad and a jury has the kid's fate in their hands.
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In one instance, the suspect is accused of personally taking part in the killing by stabbing a victim in the chest with a knife, the prosecutors said.
Verb
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Bryce Eldridge handled the rest, picking Schmitt’s throw out of the dirt to complete the double play.
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The studio showed strong instincts when picking creative partners on the horror side, too.
Verb
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The show ushered in a new era of winking, elbow-jabbing meta-musicals.
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The audience groaned, while Vergara and Mel B screamed for Strange to stop jabbing at his partner through the box.
Verb
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On June 3, Walden went to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed the metal bristle had become lodged in his bowel and had begun puncturing his intestine.
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Where there’s normally carpet or hardwood floors, there are rocks, puncturing bare feet with each step.
Verb
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Granite cliffs piercing the sea and the sky are Acadia National Park’s most recognizable feature.
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Her flat, piercing groundstrokes and booming serve are perfect for grass, and defending champion Świątek will need to calm down her serving roller coaster to stay in touch.
Verb
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Working with 5 to 6 pieces at a time, remove fish from batter, allowing excess to drip back into bowl, and add to hot oil, briefly dragging fish along surface of oil to prevent sticking.
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Many Venezuelan news reports have avoided politically delicate questions related to the earthquake, such as the widespread collapse of buildings, sticking instead to safer stories about heroic rescues.
Verb
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Jenkins said Macias-Gomez was also charged with battery on a peace officer for spitting.
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First, play was allowed to restart, which was previously a hard stop on any VAR intervention — except violent conduct and spitting at someone.
Cite this Entry
“Pecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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