as in intercepting
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course
picked off more passes than any other player in the division
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Recent Examples of picking off
The Dead Don't Die In Jim Jarmusch's absurdist apocalypse comedy, flesh-craving zombies raid the once-tranquil town of Centerville, picking off its residents one by one.
—
James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Bailey wound up deflecting 21 throws and picking off 10 others.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
The Soviets have put down a rebellion against the puppet government that ruled in Budapest and are now in the process of picking off the politicians, students, and general who had led it.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Indeed, what Ransom did after picking off Mason Rudolph and returning the ball 16 yards didn’t look much like that at all.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2025
The Jayhawks also caused two turnovers by picking off Fresno State quarterback EJ Warner once in each half.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2025
James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Bailey wound up deflecting 21 throws and picking off 10 others.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
The Soviets have put down a rebellion against the puppet government that ruled in Budapest and are now in the process of picking off the politicians, students, and general who had led it.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Indeed, what Ransom did after picking off Mason Rudolph and returning the ball 16 yards didn’t look much like that at all.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2025
The Jayhawks also caused two turnovers by picking off Fresno State quarterback EJ Warner once in each half.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking off
Verb
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However, the game entirely swung in the Eagles' favor after intercepting Mahomes on a pass into the end zone that hit Kelce in the hands, which would have otherwise given the Chiefs a fourth quarter lead had Kelce made the catch.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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The Golden Bears tied for the national lead with 28 takeaways in 2023, recovering 16 fumbles and intercepting 12 passes.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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People are sorting into bubbles not just at work or online, but also while running errands or grabbing dinner.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By now, ChatGPT and most other LLMs have mitigated such attacks, not by squashing prompt injections, but rather by blocking the channels the prompt injections use to exfiltrate confidential information.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Okunlola, meanwhile, hasn’t allowed a single sack or quarterback hurry in 59 pass blocking snaps while playing 120 snaps, mostly at left guard.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20off. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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