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
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Recent Examples of selective
The complete list of nominees appears below, followed by a selective list of their most significant songs.
—
Jem Aswad, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Comey’s lawyers allege that the Justice Department’s prosecution is both selective and vindictive.
—Peter A. Joy, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2025
But pop culture’s depiction of cowboys and the American West is selective.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Given the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, Sorbara is more cautious and selective in the near term.
—CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
Jem Aswad, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Comey’s lawyers allege that the Justice Department’s prosecution is both selective and vindictive.
—Peter A. Joy, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2025
But pop culture’s depiction of cowboys and the American West is selective.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Given the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, Sorbara is more cautious and selective in the near term.
—CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selective
Adjective
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In particular, Auburn's Hugh Freeze has quickly emerged as a coach who could very well be on the outs if the remainder of the 2025 season goes downhill.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Not since Mister Rogers has an actual adult human managed to break into that particular canon of cultural fixtures, becoming a household name and shaping the imaginations of millions while still speaking joyfully and directly to the youngest amongst us.—
Samantha Barry,
Glamour,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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LinkedIn's algorithm is choosy.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Known for being among the choosiest of the choosy buildings and the longtime home of Henry Kissinger, whose sprawling duplex, full of green upholstery and black candles — very Sister Parish — has yet to come on the market since his death.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For example, try plain egg and cheese bites for picky eaters, or try adding mixed vegetables and beans for an easy way to boost your fiber intake.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
27 Oct. 2025
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Nothing in the kitchen is more reliably frustrating than trying to feed a picky one.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As the conversation turned to Haliburton, Antetokounmpo challenged Turner to say three nice things about his former All-Star point guard.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Even the fact that Refiberd doesn’t need a lot of financing to keep itself afloat because of the nature of its technology is a nice bit of happenstance.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selective. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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