Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of picked off
After the teams traded field goals on their first overtime possessions, Kuechly picked off Luck on a pass deflected by Roman Harper.
—
Joseph Person, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The gritty wing threw a rebound off a Kings player to give the Celtics possession, picked off a Dennis Schroder pass and gathered an offensive rebound after his own missed three.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
On second down, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson hiked the ball and went to make a quick pass, when Malcolm Butler, an undrafted rookie cornerback jumped the route, picked off the throw and sealed the Patriots fourth Super Bowl victory.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
In their prior three games, beginning with a playoff rout of the Vikings last January, the Rams had picked off seven Darnold passes.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Boldy had picked off a pass while shorthanded early in the game and had made a rush to the Panthers net that was thwarted.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Rookie safety Craig Woodson nearly picked off the pass but came away with a pass breakup.
—Doug Kyed, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2026
But Carson Beck’s long toss to Keelan Marion was picked off by cornerback Jamari Sharpe, sealing the win and starting the celebration.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Williams made a sensational, fourth-down, desperation touchdown pass in the final minute to force OT, but he was picked off by Kam Curl after Chicago had reached the Rams 48.
—Rob Maaddi, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
Joseph Person, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The gritty wing threw a rebound off a Kings player to give the Celtics possession, picked off a Dennis Schroder pass and gathered an offensive rebound after his own missed three.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
On second down, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson hiked the ball and went to make a quick pass, when Malcolm Butler, an undrafted rookie cornerback jumped the route, picked off the throw and sealed the Patriots fourth Super Bowl victory.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
In their prior three games, beginning with a playoff rout of the Vikings last January, the Rams had picked off seven Darnold passes.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Boldy had picked off a pass while shorthanded early in the game and had made a rush to the Panthers net that was thwarted.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Rookie safety Craig Woodson nearly picked off the pass but came away with a pass breakup.
—Doug Kyed, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2026
But Carson Beck’s long toss to Keelan Marion was picked off by cornerback Jamari Sharpe, sealing the win and starting the celebration.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Williams made a sensational, fourth-down, desperation touchdown pass in the final minute to force OT, but he was picked off by Kam Curl after Chicago had reached the Rams 48.
—Rob Maaddi, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picked off
Verb
-
On first and goal from the Patriots’ one-yard line with 26 seconds remaining, Wilson’s pass for Ricardo Lockette was intercepted by Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler to seal the win for New England.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
That's when Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler intercepted a short pass near the goal line, snatching the victory from Seattle.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Doncic turned to run back up the court and grabbed the back of his left leg.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Jarrett Allen scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Dennis Schroder added 11 points in his Cavaliers debut and Keon Ellis had 6 points in his first game with the Cavaliers, who won for the seventh time in eight games.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Without the fear of being captured mid-tear or mid-questionable dance moves, people are quicker to let their guards down and enjoy themselves fully.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Their work consisted of a neuromorphic sensor that captured the actions of Braille readers.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In his first playoff game, a thriller against the Los Angeles Rams, McMillan caught five passes for 81 yards, using his connection with quarterback Bryce Young to get the ball downfield.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
One month after the US carried out an attack in Venezuela to capture its president, civilians in the South American country remain caught between uncertainty and expectations of governmental change.—
CNN 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, authorities have yet to restore full access to the social media platform X, which Maduro blocked after its billionaire owner, Elon Musk, accused him of stealing the 2024 vote.—
EGINA GARCIA CANO,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The letter states that Google’s generative artificial intelligence is used by CBP and that the Google Play Store has blocked ICE tracking apps.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picked off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picked%20off. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
