Synonyms of pick

pick 1 of 2

noun

1

as in choice

a person or thing that is chosen

that team is my pick to win the Super Bowl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choice
• bet
• favorite
• selection
• chosen
• option
• candidate
• nominee
• nomination
• preference
• liking
• like
• designation
• appointment
• appointee
• elective
• selectee
• preselection

2

as in best

individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class

the pick of the contestants will go on to the next competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

• best
• elect
• choice
• top
• aristocracy
• elite
• flower
• prime
• cream
• Hall of Fame
• pink
• cream of the crop
• A-list
• royalty
• society
• upper crust
• pride
• priesthood
• quality
• crème de la crème
• fat
• establishment
• corps d'elite
• illuminati
• upper class
• nobility
• top drawer
• gentry
• caviar
• who's who

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• masses
• millions
• multitude
• rank and file
• herd
• mob
• commoners
• hoi polloi
• unwashed

3

as in option

the power, right, or opportunity to choose

you have first pick of your office mates for the softball team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• option
• choice
• way
• preference
• selection
• alternative
• liberty
• vote
• election
• discretion
• will
• volition
• druthers
• say
• determination
• free will
• voice
• tendency
• liking
• inclination
• propensity
• predilection
• proclivity
• judgment
• penchant
• discernment
• partiality
• perspicacity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• force
• duty
• coercion
• obligation
• duress
• Hobson's choice

4

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

in the days when corporal punishment was permissible, it was not uncommon for an inattentive student to get a sharp pick in the head with a blackboard pointer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• hit
• swipe
• knock
• slap
• punch
• whack
• thump
• pound
• poke
• thud
• lick
• smack
• stroke
• beat
• spank
• bang
• slam
• chop
• switch
• hook
• clip
• clap
• kick
• smash
• swat
• crack
• bat
• box
• hack
• lash
• belt
• bash
• buffet
• pelt
• bust
• plump
• sock
• stripe
• slug
• bop
• fillip
• rap
• dab
• cuff
• clout
• knee
• pounding
• swing
• hand
• biff
• wham
• douse
• left
• wallop
• stinger
• thwack
• licking
• right
• beating
• whop
• welt
• counter
• haymaker
• larrup
• body blow
• whip
• shiver
• sucker punch
• hammering
• counterblow
• whipping
• one-two
• counterstroke
• thrashing
• knockdown
• rabbit punch
• knockout
• KO
• counterpunch
• roundhouse
• pummeling
• uppercut
• pasting
• battering
• sidewinder
• drubbing
• flogging
• cruncher
• clobbering
• bludgeoning
• walloping
• lambasting
• right-hander
• cudgeling
• kayo
• bastinado

pick

2 of 2

verb

ˈpik 

1

as in to harvest

to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use

pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harvest
• gather
• reap
• grow
• fish
• mow
• glean
• cut
• accumulate
• garner
• seal
• hunt
• forage
• capture
• crop
• hay
• trap
• raise
• shrimp
• clam
• whale
• net
• snare
• bag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plant
• sow
• seed

2

as in to choose

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities

I pick you as my partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choose
• select
• take
• prefer
• elect
• name
• designate
• handpick
• tag
• cull
• cherry-pick
• opt (for)
• nominate
• single (out)
• accept
• adopt
• appoint
• tap
• set
• tab
• preselect
• mark
• embrace
• fix
• settle (on or upon)
• espouse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuse
• reject
• decline
• turn down
• negative
• disapprove
• repudiate
• discard
• spurn
• throw away
• throw out
• jettison

3

as in to provoke

to bring (something volatile or intense) into being

he seems to be trying to pick a fight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoke
• raise
• encourage
• promote
• trigger
• set in motion
• incite
• instigate
• stir (up)
• stimulate
• cultivate
• brew
• foment
• ferment
• whip (up)
• abet
• forward
• inspire
• set off
• motivate
• nurture
• foster
• further
• detonate
• rouse
• set
• nourish
• sow
• advance
• activate
• excite
• galvanize
• energize
• inflame
• enliven
• invigorate
• quicken
• fire
• jazz (up)
• vitalize
• liven (up)
• pep (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• check
• hold
• regulate
• restrain
• discourage
• constrain
• curb
• inhibit
• tame
• rein (in)
• settle
• subdue
• calm
• soothe
• bridle
• allay
• still
• quiet
• tranquilize

4

as in to nibble

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

• nibble
• snack
• peck
• graze
• taste
• nosh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gorge
• overeat
• swill
• pig out
• gormandize

5

as in to stab

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

• stab
• stick
• pierce
• puncture
• jab
• peck
• spit
• poke
• pink
• impale
• spear
• run through
• lance
• punch
• slice
• spike
• transfix
• skewer
• gore
• transpierce
• harpoon
• cut
• perforate
• spindle
• knife
• thrust
• riddle
• pike
• prick
• quill
• bayonet
• prong
• poniard
• gimlet
• dirk
• pinprick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pick

Noun

So no surprise the shells were his third pick, after dripping sauce on himself. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025

Recent research finds a similar curse afflicts National Football League teams that compete to acquire one of the top picks in its annual draft of new players. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025

Verb

Winthrop was only picked fifth in the Big South preseason poll, but has a natural scorer in guard Daylen Berry (a game-high 23 points Monday) and buys into good defense like the Eagles always have. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025

But who did Mel pick on The Golden Bachelor Season 2? —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2025

Phrases Containing pick

• pick at
• pick off
• pick on
• pick the brains of
• pick up
• pick up on