SELECTIVE Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

selective

adjective

sə-ˈlek-tiv

Definition of selective

as in particular

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 decision to change diet or move to a new habitat, simply because of an impulse to explore options, can alter the selective pressures a population experiences and thus its evolutionary trajectory. — Quanta Magazine, 8 July 2026 The results arrive at a time when the broader auction market has shown signs of growing more selective. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 July 2026 Spectrally selective films block infrared heat and UV rays while allowing a large percentage of visible light to pass through. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026 Almost all of them are highly selective, and Davidson College is no exception. — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for selective

Recent Examples of Synonyms for selective

Adjective

According to the laws of the game, the break between halves should be no longer than 15 minutes but FIFA has been quite vague about the rules for this particular tournament.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Hair grows in different cycles, and the laser only affects hairs in a particular phase of their growth.

— The Editors, Robb Report, 19 July 2026

Definition of particular

Adjective

Did Argentina benefit, in the last 16, from a by-the-rules but picky VAR decision that nixed a quality goal by Egypt?

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Yellow and green squash add a good dose of veggies to this baked pasta, but are combined with enough gooey cheese that the picky eaters won’t even mind.

— Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Definition of picky

Adjective

Ferran Torres, who hadn’t scored all tournament, getting the winner in the final from an assist by Nico Williams, who had fitness issues throughout, was a nice subplot.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 20 July 2026
The sliding rear window is a nice touch and harks back to the latest Toyota 4Runner, a vehicle the R2 will be cross-shopped against.

— Greg Migliore, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of nice

Browse Nearby Words

selections

selective

selectively

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selective. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of selective

adjective

Example Sentences

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