CULL Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

cull 1 of 2

noun

Definition of cull

as in discard

something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others the unbruised apples will be packed in bags, and the culls will be used for cider

Synonyms & Similar Words

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cull

2 of 2

verb

ˈkəl

as in to select

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities culled the best short stories from the author's body of writings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cull

Noun

Both Livonia and Beverly Hills city councils are discussing a deer cull, following the lead of Southfield, Farmington and Farmington Hills, which held the region’s first cull earlier this year. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026 This decision risks a reduction in the price dairy farmers receive for their cull cows and higher profits for foreign beef exporters, all for a potentially nominal decrease in the retail ground beef price. — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Verb

The past five years were a culling season of sorts for the Prada Group. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 When ranchers can’t afford to keep feeding animals through a drought, they’re forced to cull early, including breeding cows that would otherwise produce next year’s calf crop. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cull

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cull

Noun

Drawing on classic trial films and cartoon lore, director Dave Green crafts an underdog story that mirrors the movie’s own David-versus-Goliath journey from studio discard to theatrical release.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
If liquid collects on the top of the discard, stir it in before using.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of discard

Verb

The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners will be tasked with selecting the department’s new leader.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
At the Hästens Sleep Spa in Coimbra, Portugal, for example, guests select their preferred pillow firmness at check-in—a small detail designed to make the bed feel more personalized.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of select

Noun

Jurors repeatedly reviewed surveillance video capturing the hours, minutes and seconds leading to the shooting before ultimately deadlocking on the homicide charges.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
The ancient Egyptian city will experience an extraordinary 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality, close to the longest possible anywhere on Earth that day.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of second

Verb

While a number of brands have been founded specifically to target a Gen Z audience or other demographic groups like Boomers, a new report by Launchmetrics suggests that not choosing between generations may be the best approach.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
The good news is there is a plethora of delicious and luxe new scents to choose from this season.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of choose

Noun

Before carving out a career in sports broadcasting and voice acting, Horton was just a teenaged high school basketball reject.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
And both the immune and eliminated designers are high on their own power; Elizabeth, in particular, is acting mighty haughty for a woman whose ruffled scarlet satin dress looks like a reject from the Westworld costume department.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

Politically, spiritually, institutionally, financially, environmentally, psychologically — pick your adverb.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
The affidavit said the woman also provided police photos of her injuries and said a friend attempted to pick her up from the home on on the day of the incident but was turned away.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of pick

Verb

Chandler primarily uses his guitars to produce radar sweeps of drone, which allows Schwendener’s bass to take full responsibility for Beat’s melodies.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
Then last year, during the mass federal government turnover, Brower took a buyout from her job as a public health consultant, and Simone said their position with the General Services Administration was eliminated.

— KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of take

Browse Nearby Words

culinarians

cull

culled

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Style

“Cull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cull. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cull

noun

verb

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