Synonyms of cull

cull 1 of 2

noun

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

• discard
• second
• reject
• rejection
• rubbish
• trash
• waste
• scrap
• castaway
• throwaway
• white elephant
• hand-me-down

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

• select
• choose
• pick
• take
• elect
• prefer
• name
• tag
• designate
• handpick
• cherry-pick
• single (out)
• opt (for)
• nominate
• adopt
• appoint
• accept
• tap
• set
• preselect
• mark
• embrace
• tab
• espouse
• settle (on or upon)
• fix

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuse
• reject
• decline
• turn down
• negative
• disapprove
• discard
• repudiate
• throw away
• spurn
• throw out
• jettison

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cull

Noun

In a February cull of Pentagon school books, a picture book about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the liberal icon who was the first Jewish woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, was placed under review for potential DEI content. —Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025

Featuring hundreds of reindeer skulls hung in a curtain, the installation commented on the cull decreed by the Norwegian Reindeer Herding Act, which goes against Sámi traditions. —News Desk, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2025

Verb

Meat: The new Edgewater Whole Foods also includes a full-service meat counter culling ground beef from Adams Ranch Natural Beef in Fort Pierce. Beer: A spirits section boasts more than 240 craft beers, many of which are from local brewers, and 700 wines. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025

This is why the numbers need to be culled by a limited hunt. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 May 2025