as in selecting
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
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Recent Examples of culling
The Legislature did start culling license plates, eliminating those that didn’t sell well.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The Lake County Forest Preserves proposed culling deer to balance nature, and there was some controversy.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The winners include heartbreaking images of an elephant culling in Zimbabwe, a massive apartment fire in Hong Kong, and the devastating aftermath of drone attacks in Ukraine.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
Because not everyone on the island owns a rifle, men often work in groups to locate the animal that has been selected for culling.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
The culling perfectly played into ongoing fears that AI automation is coming for white-collar jobs, a major job market and economic disruption that workers are becoming increasingly worried about — and which clearly has execs salivating.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
Around 40% of employees expect to follow Siemiatkowski’s lead in culling staff down the line as a result of AI, according to the 2025 World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Florida’s way of culling the program reduces the income eligibility.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
But even bad songs are tough to whittle into a list and culling some of the worst offenders is highly subjective.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The Lake County Forest Preserves proposed culling deer to balance nature, and there was some controversy.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The winners include heartbreaking images of an elephant culling in Zimbabwe, a massive apartment fire in Hong Kong, and the devastating aftermath of drone attacks in Ukraine.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
Because not everyone on the island owns a rifle, men often work in groups to locate the animal that has been selected for culling.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
The culling perfectly played into ongoing fears that AI automation is coming for white-collar jobs, a major job market and economic disruption that workers are becoming increasingly worried about — and which clearly has execs salivating.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
Around 40% of employees expect to follow Siemiatkowski’s lead in culling staff down the line as a result of AI, according to the 2025 World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Florida’s way of culling the program reduces the income eligibility.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
But even bad songs are tough to whittle into a list and culling some of the worst offenders is highly subjective.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culling
Verb
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Franciscan Alliance is in the process of selecting an administrative staff of physicians and experienced medical school leaders to complete the planning process.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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Blaney also ruled that the recorder’s office is responsible for overseeing in-person early voting, among other duties, while the board is responsible for other operations, such as selecting Election Day voting locations, supplying polling locations and hiring poll workers.—
Josh Kelety,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shop sustainable swaps for earth month Making sustainable swaps this Earth Month means choosing reusable, low-waste and eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products.—
Casey DelBasso,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Students apply for it in their junior year, and are tasked with randomly choosing a decade to design head-turning fashion.—
Chris Wragge,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With the Chicago Bears picking toward the end of the first round for the first time in years, their NFL draft scenarios are numerous.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
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When picking an airplane drink, water is the only one that actually solves a problem.—
Jill Robbins,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culling. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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