as in to pick 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 peck (at)
Verb
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Fighting his corner all the while is dogged Australian human rights lawyer Jen Robinson and Stella Moris, another loyal member of his legal team, who eventually became Assange’s wife, and mother to two of his children.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 May 2025 -
In fact, in one area that has dogged most American public schools, the military schools have stood out.—
Anna Mulrine Grobe,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 May 2025
Verb
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The weary guard is subtler than other characters at pulling Henry’s strings, but Jerry needles his captor by surmising correctly that even his list of demands is Gene’s work.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2025
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While the night kicked off with Clay Matthews needling the Chicago Bears, the Windy City club still got their man.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Until her death at age 25, Emily would beg to be taken to the carousel at the mall near her home in Columbia, Maryland.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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But coming from the multiracial, multiethnic U.S., his background begged for further description.—
Rebecca R. Bibbs,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Verb
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Trump met personally with the GOP conference that morning, urging them to stop pushing for more changes and get behind the bill.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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Since May 2024, Jupiter has moved through your zone of intimacy, depth, and mutual resources, urging you to be more discerning about emotional risk.—
Colin Bedell,
Them.,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Editor’s Note: Is anything ailing, torturing, or nagging at you?—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2025
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Marte, 31, finished third in the NL MVP race and won a Silver Slugger award last season in a career year — 36 homers, 95 RBIs and a 155 OPS+ despite playing only 136 games because of nagging back and left ankle injuries.—
Jack Magruder,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After years of ‘losing culture,’ can the new-look Chicago Bears turn things around on defense? Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard didn’t bother mincing words.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
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Users do have to purchase such gadgets, learn how to utilize them, and put them on their body, however, which are all steps that many folks simply won't bother taking.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
26 May 2025
Verb
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The company has been hounded by bad news, falling since 2019 and giving back 78.6% of its ten-year 2009-2019 bull market.—
Bill Sarubbi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Three issues are expected to hound the next pope: clerical abuse, poor finances of the Vatican and the ongoing cultural war between progressives and conservatives.—
Camille Elemia,
NBC news,
4 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Peck (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peck%20%28at%29. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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