minimize vs pick at

minimize and pick at both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
minimize	No	No	Yes	No
pick at	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, pick at is a hypernym of minimize; that is, pick at is a word with a broader meaning than minimize:

Other hypernyms of minimize include belittle, disparage.

minimize (verb)	pick at (verb)
make small or insignificant	express a negative opinion of
cause to seem less serious; play down	eat like a bird
represent as less significant or important	pluck or pull at with the fingers