as in selecting
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
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Recent Examples of culling
Some companies have already leaned into culling headcount to grow profits, including enterprise-software firm IgniteTech.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026
Florida’s way of culling the program reduces the income eligibility.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Veterinary experts recommend culling infected animals or isolating them.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
But even bad songs are tough to whittle into a list and culling some of the worst offenders is highly subjective.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Most human cases have occurred after coming into contact with infected cattle, infected poultry farms or other culling operations.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2025
In most economies, the market would sort out this mess by culling the weakest players.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
But the troops won’t be culling the bears – they’re not allowed to under Japanese law.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Now, a controversial management strategy would involve culling more than 15,000 annually.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026
Florida’s way of culling the program reduces the income eligibility.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Veterinary experts recommend culling infected animals or isolating them.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
But even bad songs are tough to whittle into a list and culling some of the worst offenders is highly subjective.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Most human cases have occurred after coming into contact with infected cattle, infected poultry farms or other culling operations.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2025
In most economies, the market would sort out this mess by culling the weakest players.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
But the troops won’t be culling the bears – they’re not allowed to under Japanese law.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Now, a controversial management strategy would involve culling more than 15,000 annually.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culling
Verb
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For all the speculation about selecting a defensive lineman or running back with the ninth overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Chiefs may find themselves in need of a boost in another area — wide receiver.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
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Amy Steele dedicated her life to her vocation by choosing to embrace difficult situations instead of selecting the simplest path.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Your strength lies not in not needing anyone, but in consciously choosing with whom to move forward.—
Marie Bladt,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
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If even deciding where to start seems difficult, Bereika suggests choosing the smallest category.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In episode 9, the duo was hard at work picking whom to murder and throwing off the faithfuls from discovering their traitor identities.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Feb. 2026
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Not for a second did any draft people try to get cute and start talking about picking Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey or Edgecombe or Knueppel at the top.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Culling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culling. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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