Showing results for picking on. Search instead for tacking+on.

picking on

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

VERB

nag

Synonyms

STRONGEST

badger bully get at tease torment

WEAK

bait blame carp cavil criticize find fault foment get to goad hector incite instigate pick at provoke quibble start

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.

The ETF market can also be mean, picking on specific people.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2025

I’ll be deemed as hopelessly antique and asked, why am I picking on some poor kids who are just trying to get paid what they’re worth?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025

Without picking on Duckett, who has been successful and is a personable character, he can be used as an example.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2024

He told the officers they would “regret picking on me because you don’t know who … I am.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 22, 2023

The other children have stopped picking on me because I am a fighter.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung