pick on

verb

picked on; picking on; picks on
Synonyms of pick onnext

transitive verb

: to single out for criticism, teasing, or bullying
picked on smaller boys
also : to single out for a particular purpose or for special attention

Examples of pick on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Lifestyle contributor Lori Bergamotto shared her top Mother's Day picks on ABC News Live. ABC News, 1 May 2026 With seven draft picks on the roster, fans are understandably curious about those new players’ roles this season and beyond. Mike Kaye april 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026 Smith had previously delivered a rant about Bronny's NBA qualifications, and LeBron seemed to think Smith was picking on a kid to get at the father. Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Davis The Giants used one of their first-round picks on Mauigoa, and the plan is to slot him in at right guard immediately. Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026 The low high school rankings of the Dolphins defenders as prep prospects stands in contrast to several of their draft picks on offense. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026 And what could be more defensive and self-aggrandizing than choosing a weaker person to pick on, to transfer all of one’s anxieties to, and then to harm for daring to comply? Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026 Kansas City also took a worthwhile dart throw by using a seventh-round pick on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, whom some had projected before the 2025 season as a potential first-round pick. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026 The Chiefs’ March 2026 trade of Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams set the table for the club to use a premium pick on a cornerback like Delane. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pick on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20on. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

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