as in particular
tending to select carefully we were highly selective about the music we listened to while trying out loudspeakers

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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 selective The announcement comes as President Donald Trump's administration continues to intensify its pressure on selective universities over accusations of rampant antisemitism and liberal bias. Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 June 2025 But it is often overshadowed by other UCs, such as the more selective UCLA and UC Berkeley. Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025 With no predators, external threats or competitors, demodex mites have no selective pressures, Perotti explained. Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 30 May 2025 In addition to the general tariffs, Trump launched selective reciprocal tariffs much higher than the 10% general charge. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for selective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selective
Adjective
  • Liquids in particular grew 50 percent at the retailer, thanks in part to Mary Ruth’s.
    Emily Burns, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
  • His curls may be a little grayer, but his ultra-expressive face — acrobatic eyebrows in particular — reflects his eternal curiosity and up-for-anything-ness.
    Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • While tariffs may lead to consumers being more choosy, Link said the overall macroeconomic picture still looks positive, bolstered by lower interest rates, a steady job market and strong consumer savings.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And by that time in her career, Salonga could be choosy.
    Robert Ito, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Pets can be pretty picky, especially with their food and water.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 June 2025
  • There is no such thing as a perfect candidate, so don’t be so darn picky.
    Michelle Jefferson, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • That this wrap-up happens on the stoop of an apartment building provides a nice callback to Past Lives.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
  • Reyes was a nice spring training story, but the Yankees were fooled by meaningless February and March stats.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selective. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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