variants
also peck order
as in hierarchy
the way in which people or things in a group or organization are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status
As an assistant manager, he was pretty low in the company's pecking order.
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Recent Examples of pecking order
Rua Esperanza is at the top of the neighborhood’s custom-home pecking order, Work said.
—
David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
There’s a clear pecking order when LeBron or when Luka and AR on the floor together with guys that are low usage players.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Anyone with a functioning pair of corneas can see that the San Francisco 49ers are currently looking up at the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West pecking order.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
Edmonds and Punch are the go-to options on offense, and having that clear pecking order is one reason TCU played its way off the bubble.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
There’s a clear pecking order when LeBron or when Luka and AR on the floor together with guys that are low usage players.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Anyone with a functioning pair of corneas can see that the San Francisco 49ers are currently looking up at the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West pecking order.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
Edmonds and Punch are the go-to options on offense, and having that clear pecking order is one reason TCU played its way off the bubble.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pecking order
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecking order
Noun
-
The hierarchy, contrary to outside suggestion, is remaining largely similar to the start, save for those who have moved on, such as former general manager Randy Pfund, former lead draft scout Chet Kammerer, who still retains an emeritus title with the organization, and former coach Stan Van Gundy.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
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Such outdoor activities create an instant hierarchy; who leads, who navigates and who sets the pace.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What the ranking also does not reflect is the work happening at the local level.—
Sooji Nam,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Here’s a ranking of the UDFAs with the best chance to stick around with the Raiders in 2026, from least likely to most.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pecking order.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking%20order. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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