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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of picking
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
26 June 2026
The robot is optimized for material handling, picking, and other high-intensity production-line tasks, reports CNEVPost.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 June 2026
The 30 picks in the second round are ordered entirely by regular-season records, with the worst team picking 31st and the best picking 60th.
—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
Early summer is the picking season, and many people come to the town as seasonal workers to help, including from other countries.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
But lucky for you (and for me, frankly), a ton of the best Prime Day deals are under $50 and ripe for the picking.
—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
23 June 2026
The Redland rebrand Established in 2024, the Miami Redland Agritourism District allows agricultural businesses in the area to convert 5% of their parcel to venues for dining, fruit picking, family friendly activities, petting zoos, ATV riding, and other activities.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
In colder seasons, this rug brings the fun of flower-picking inside.
—
Briana Feigon,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
Regularly monitor the plants for beetles and use methods such as hand-picking or insecticidal soap to control them.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Alexandra Frost,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
That would take the power of picking your replacement out of the hands of voters.
—
NBC news,
28 June 2026
Many of us will be making memories while slicing watermelon, picking blueberries, and eating homemade ice cream.
—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
Bagnara stresses picking repellents approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for maximum efficiency and minimal side effects for humans and pets.
—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
27 June 2026
Florida made six selections, picking four forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender to add to their pipeline.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Crook peruses the crowds, picking his moments carefully.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
Callihan had trouble picking it up, allowing McCarthy to race around the bases and beat the relay throw home.
—
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Yet the Lakers also are aware that picking that late in the round could leave them selecting the best player available.
—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
There are more than 9,000 robots that aide workers in picking, packaging and shipping items.
—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
26 June 2026
The robot is optimized for material handling, picking, and other high-intensity production-line tasks, reports CNEVPost.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 June 2026
The 30 picks in the second round are ordered entirely by regular-season records, with the worst team picking 31st and the best picking 60th.
—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
Early summer is the picking season, and many people come to the town as seasonal workers to help, including from other countries.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
But lucky for you (and for me, frankly), a ton of the best Prime Day deals are under $50 and ripe for the picking.
—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
23 June 2026
The Redland rebrand Established in 2024, the Miami Redland Agritourism District allows agricultural businesses in the area to convert 5% of their parcel to venues for dining, fruit picking, family friendly activities, petting zoos, ATV riding, and other activities.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
In colder seasons, this rug brings the fun of flower-picking inside.
—
Briana Feigon,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
Regularly monitor the plants for beetles and use methods such as hand-picking or insecticidal soap to control them.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Verb
One of the first tips for picking the perfect melon is its weight.
—
Alexandra Frost,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
That would take the power of picking your replacement out of the hands of voters.
—
NBC news,
28 June 2026
Many of us will be making memories while slicing watermelon, picking blueberries, and eating homemade ice cream.
—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
Bagnara stresses picking repellents approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for maximum efficiency and minimal side effects for humans and pets.
—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
27 June 2026
Florida made six selections, picking four forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender to add to their pipeline.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Crook peruses the crowds, picking his moments carefully.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
Callihan had trouble picking it up, allowing McCarthy to race around the bases and beat the relay throw home.
—
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Yet the Lakers also are aware that picking that late in the round could leave them selecting the best player available.
—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking
Noun
-
Cancer June 21 – July 22 Your words, image, and personal choices are under review.
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June 21 – July 22 Your words, image, and personal choices are under review.
Verb
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Crooks then deploy myriad methods, including showing viewers scam ads and fake software updates, harvesting their data, or earning commissions by sending them to gambling or adult content sites.
-
Trim the Tops Remove the green foliage immediately after harvesting to help preserve the carrot’s moisture, flavor, and texture.
Verb
-
In Buffalo, New York, the 2026 NHL draft action kicked off with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Penn State winger Gavin McKenna – a pick most people expected would open the night.
-
While selecting pieces for the exhibit, Pacini visited the carousel in storage.
Verb
-
Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.
-
Experts don’t fully agree on how helpful a low-histamine diet—which limits histamine-provoking foods—is for systemic mastocytosis.
Verb
-
Deer And Rabbit Damage Deer have a frustrating habit of nibbling the flowers off of hydrangeas.
-
To avoid your dog nibbling on dangerous plants altogether, take the following steps.
Verb
-
Ditto for the subsequent scene of young Santa stabbing her mother to death.
-
Harrison Jamal Greer, 54, is charged with murder after allegedly stabbing and killing a man.
Noun
-
Could it be broken into on election night?
-
The post underscored two fundamental elements of the party’s campaign ahead of parliamentary elections slated for late October.
Verb
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On an album centered on killing ego and embracing growth, the response feels less like avoidance and more like a man choosing peace over proving a point.
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That means creating an easily navigable layout, incorporating soft, inviting textures and materials, and choosing extra-comfortable furniture.
Cite this Entry
“Picking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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