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
Nike, too, made selective price increases, but only on shoes above $100.
—
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
An alternative, selective immunotherapy, which targets specific cells or pathways, has milder side effects and leaves the person less vulnerable to other diseases.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Ship then made its own return to Earth, surviving the intense heat of reentry despite the selective heat shield tile-stripping.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Still, such coverage is selective, and opportunities are rare.
—Cynthia Salarizadeh, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
An alternative, selective immunotherapy, which targets specific cells or pathways, has milder side effects and leaves the person less vulnerable to other diseases.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Ship then made its own return to Earth, surviving the intense heat of reentry despite the selective heat shield tile-stripping.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Still, such coverage is selective, and opportunities are rare.
—Cynthia Salarizadeh, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selective
Adjective
-
This particular system uses an underground connecting cable between two passenger cabins.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
For these men, in particular, better intervention could indeed be lifesaving.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
LinkedIn's algorithm is choosy.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
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
-
Water Quality While the water from your faucet is generally ok for most other houseplants, peace lilies are picky about their water.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
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Don’t bribe—empathize Bribing picky eaters with dessert is a common tactic parents use to get to the end of the meal.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This one, for example, has fun detailing on the sleeves and a nice roomy fit that looks as comfortable as a sweatshirt.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Bills come due, eventually, in every sense, though reported name, image and likeness earnings nearing $2 million at Utah are a nice buffer.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selective. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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