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

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 At Westfields Sports High School, a selective school renowned for its athletic programs, Kennedy started to turn heads. Asli Pelit, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025 Its path from European favorite to Argentine flagship was shaped by chance, disaster and the selective forces of climate and soil. Rachel King, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025 The film screened in the selective Spotlight category at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, following earlier premieres at Venice and Telluride. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025 The company's leaders have spoken frequently about how inflation has made U.S. consumers more value conscious and selective, causing some to buy lower-margin necessities like groceries and household items instead of higher-margin items like clothing. Melissa Repko, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for selective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selective
Adjective
  • In particular, the plaintiffs object to providing their 70 employees fully reimbursed access to PrEP.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Mamdani is tapping into a well of energetic support among young voters in particular, thanks in no small part to his stance on issues such as the Israel/Gaza conflict and trans rights.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • While tariffs may lead to consumers being more choosy, Link said the overall macroeconomic picture still looks positive, bolstered by lower interest rates, a steady job market and strong consumer savings.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And by that time in her career, Salonga could be choosy.
    Robert Ito, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Votive experts and picky people wax poetic about scents from Harry Styles, Courteney Cox, and more All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors.
    Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 2 May 2025
  • There is even research that shows that color-blind men may be less likely to be picky eaters because their inability to discern clearly between colors hinders them from forming an emotional response to a food’s appearance.
    Bedatri D. Choudhury, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • There may be a nice bunch of grapes, a couple slices of melon, and a hunk of juicy homegrown tomato.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
  • Elite firepower, stingy defense, and all-world goaltending to tie a nice bow on it.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selective. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

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