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picked at

VERB

nag, provoke

Synonyms

WEAK

badger bait blame bully carp cavil criticize find fault foment get at get to goad hector incite instigate quibble start tease torment

Antonyms

WEAK

compliment praise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

José and his parents picked at it, mostly in silence.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2025

They picked at this particular South Africa scab with their verbal armoury of salty snipes when a tense chase began.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2025

Small batch EVOOs made from olives that come from a single location picked at the same time tend to be more robust than mass-produced bottles, which typically blend oils of varying quality.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2025

It sticks with us because of how vividly it captured the hysterical unreality of living in a turbulent age, and how it picked at the scabs crusting over the face of the American dream.

From Slate • Oct. 29, 2024

Wash set down his glass and picked at a mosquito bite on his arm.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez