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

Officials have adopted a road map for bear population management that calls for systematic culls. — ABC News, 9 June 2026

Toka was born in Mozambique and was captured as an orphan at 2 years old after her mother was killed in a cull, her rescuers said. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 29 May 2026

Verb

But a footnote says facial recognition searches are allowed with still images culled from the cameras. — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026

That situation makes the roster culling an emotional topic for those whose list status has been questioned. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026