picked at

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.

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

Department of Agriculture veterinarian epidemiologist, said there was probably very little risk to public health in having the animals piled up — even if they were picked at and consumed by buzzards, ravens and flies.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2024

I picked at my nails, my gut bubbling with guilt.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas