as in picks 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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pecks (at)
Verb
-
For families While families are welcome—and larger accommodations like the George Suite can comfortably accommodate them (dogs included)—the Chloe is best suited to solo travelers, couples and culturally curious out-of-towners drawn to design, food, music history, and a strong sense of place.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026 -
The program trains therapy dogs around the state, including Louie, an 8-year-old dog who works for the Worth Police Department.—
Suzanne Le Mignot,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Festivalgoer Jim Strait urges fans to take the sun seriously, as well.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The League of Women Voters urges our legislators to reject any attempt to redraw legislative or congressional maps before the 2030 census.—
Allyson Meyers,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fingal, a more scholarly type, begs to differ.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But Caitlin begs Vix to come to her wedding, to be her maid of honor.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But in the final moments, when Carol is back in her coach seat on the plane, something nags at her.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As Thea’s former suitor, Tesman struggles to call her by her married name, a slip of the tongue that Hedda constantly needles him about.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Jake needles Harry about the past 50 years, but Harry can only offer scraps of history.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Pecks (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecks%20%28at%29. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
