cherry-pick

verb

cher·​ry-pick ˈcher-ē-ˌpik How to pronounce cherry-pick (audio)
cherry-picked; cherry-picking; cherry-picks

intransitive verb

: to select the best or most desirable

transitive verb

: to select as being the best or most desirable
also : to select the best or most desirable from
cherry-picked the art collection

Examples of cherry-pick in a Sentence

cherry-picked the spacious corner office for his corporate fief
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
More than 85 scientists denounced the report, accusing officials of cherry-picking facts and figures to allow for the administration’s fossil fuel ambitions. Solcyré Burga, Time, 23 Sep. 2025 Trump and allies have often cherry-picked, misled and gone well beyond the evidence in trying to attach high-profile violence to the left. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025 Fetterman is worried a shutdown would give the administration broad power to keep certain federal departments and agencies closed and to cherry-pick which government services are deemed essential. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 19 Sep. 2025 Sisters Mackinley and Taylor Hill are taking inspiration from their own lives and cherry-picking a collection of juicy new jewelry for their debut line, Stone Fruit. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cherry-pick

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of cherry-pick was in 1965

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cherry-pick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry-pick. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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