as in choice
the act or process of selecting
the picking of new recruits went on for three days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in harvesting
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use
pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selecting
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
I pick you as my partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
he seems to be trying to pick a fight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in nibbling
to eat reluctantly and in small bites
still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picking
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
While picking his brain about the former series, Entertainment Weekly got the creator of both shows — Bruce Miller — to provide an update on the new one.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The lottery determines the order of the top four picks, with teams then picking in inverse order of record.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
Lane’s snap count decreased quite a bit during a stretch in the second half of the season before picking back up again.
—Antonio Morales, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Interacting with a door opens up a blueprint menu to draft a room, picking from a handful of randomized options.
—Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
Cooler conditions have delayed picking by 10 to 14 days, encouraging slower ripening and improved balance.
—Rachel King, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
The post comes a month after Spears shared a sweet family dress-up clip on Instagram showing the teen picking her dress for junior prom.
—Latoya Gayle, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The county already owned land about 14 miles north, near Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee, which Maurice said made picking a new site easy.
—Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
This takes the guesswork out of picking a winner.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
While picking his brain about the former series, Entertainment Weekly got the creator of both shows — Bruce Miller — to provide an update on the new one.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The lottery determines the order of the top four picks, with teams then picking in inverse order of record.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
Lane’s snap count decreased quite a bit during a stretch in the second half of the season before picking back up again.
—Antonio Morales, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Interacting with a door opens up a blueprint menu to draft a room, picking from a handful of randomized options.
—Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
Cooler conditions have delayed picking by 10 to 14 days, encouraging slower ripening and improved balance.
—Rachel King, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
The post comes a month after Spears shared a sweet family dress-up clip on Instagram showing the teen picking her dress for junior prom.
—Latoya Gayle, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The county already owned land about 14 miles north, near Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee, which Maurice said made picking a new site easy.
—Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking
Noun
-
Without swift Congressional action, millions could lose their health coverage, and small business owners could face devastating financial choices — all in an economic climate already fraught with uncertainty.—
Brewster Bevis,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
-
The amount of sun and the exposure in your garden should be key factors in making your plant choices.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
This will deepen the divide between the global North and South on issues of race and cultural difference, straining the West’s diplomatic relations with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while provoking broader resentment toward Western countries seen as perpetuating racial hierarchies.—
Matias Spektor,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
-
In 2008, the United States suggested that Georgia and Ukraine might eventually join the alliance but offered no concrete path to membership, thus provoking Russia without effectively deterring it.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Smith was convicted of fatally stabbing his estranged wife and her sons decades ago.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Brooks was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2017 for stabbing his girlfriend in Monroe County.—
Kate Holland,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The primary, on June 24, is considered the defining contest of the election, given the district’s heavy Democratic bent.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
Musk later slipped in a jab, suggesting that Trump and the Republicans could never have prevailed in last year’s elections without the $288 million that Musk spent to put them over the top.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
After leafing through the hefty menu I am beset by option paralysis, eventually ignoring drinks called ‘Corpse Reviver’ and ‘Balls’, instead choosing ‘Leave For Milan’, which includes gin, vermouth and some sort of rhubarb foam.—
Nick Miller,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Fans also speculated that the narrative that Grant was so close to choosing Litia may have affected his current relationship with Juliana.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Sinema spent around $8,000 on travel expenses in the Boston area in the days surrounding the marathon this spring, but has reported raising just one dollar since March, according to CREW’s complaint.—
Laura Gersony,
The Arizona Republic,
24 Dec. 2024
-
The year also began with a strong El Niño event, which occurs when the ocean in the Eastern Pacific releases large amounts of heat to the atmosphere, raising global temperatures.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Others recalled him having stand-up rows, shouting, swearing, and jabbing his finger in the direction of co-workers.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
-
O'Brien kept the jokes flowing during his opening monologue, lightly jabbing at A-list celebrities and their films while also reminding audiences what the Oscars are really about.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Also, an activation event promoting Meta Quest with an appearance by Jane Fonda promoting her new VR fitness series in West Hollywood has been canceled.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Teachers attempted to respond to tensions in the school by promoting a two-week study on the history of the conflict.—
Beth Bailey,
Fox News,
8 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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