as in selected
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking
the senator's handpicked campaign staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in picked
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
handpicked what she considered to be the cutest kitten from the litter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of handpicked
Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
Yet the handpicked chair of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has downplayed the importance of the vaccine for measles, as well as for polio and other highly contagious, deadly diseases.
—Jerome Adams, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
Al Olszewski, a former state senator who is running for Zinke's seat, accused both Daines and Zinke of betraying the people of Montana and urged voters to reject their handpicked successors.
—Matthew Brown The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
Nance proposed bringing the story of rampant fraud to a handpicked journalist, who would interview a suspect cooperating with police, a retailer and someone whose identity had been stolen for the scam.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Unlike Chapek, who alienated Disney’s creative divisions by having the media chiefs report to his handpicked ally, Kareem Daniel, there’s a sense that D’Amaro will approach the task with more delicacy, giving Walden a level of autonomy.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
This was followed by roughly fifteen minutes of panicked tinkering as his handpicked team of elite coders tried to get their product back online.
—Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Trump has railed against the Fed and Powell for the past year, berating Powell, his handpicked Fed chair, for not cutting rates.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, the handpicked commissioner of former Mayor Eric Adams, continues to lead the department.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The strategy may bring poor short-term optics for Schumer and give Republicans and Democratic primary opponents something to attack his handpicked candidates on.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
Yet the handpicked chair of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has downplayed the importance of the vaccine for measles, as well as for polio and other highly contagious, deadly diseases.
—Jerome Adams, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
Al Olszewski, a former state senator who is running for Zinke's seat, accused both Daines and Zinke of betraying the people of Montana and urged voters to reject their handpicked successors.
—Matthew Brown The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
Nance proposed bringing the story of rampant fraud to a handpicked journalist, who would interview a suspect cooperating with police, a retailer and someone whose identity had been stolen for the scam.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Unlike Chapek, who alienated Disney’s creative divisions by having the media chiefs report to his handpicked ally, Kareem Daniel, there’s a sense that D’Amaro will approach the task with more delicacy, giving Walden a level of autonomy.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
This was followed by roughly fifteen minutes of panicked tinkering as his handpicked team of elite coders tried to get their product back online.
—Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Trump has railed against the Fed and Powell for the past year, berating Powell, his handpicked Fed chair, for not cutting rates.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, the handpicked commissioner of former Mayor Eric Adams, continues to lead the department.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handpicked
Adjective
-
The gist, however, seems to be that extra-terrestrials make contact with a selected few, before promising to go public to the entire world — good luck dealing with the ramifications of that one, human race!—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
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The selected cohort—Diamond Batiste, Ciara Boniface, Jeremy Hsing, Alejandra López and Brittany Alexia Young—were chosen from nearly 1,000 submissions, placing them at the forefront of a new chapter in cinematic storytelling.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rabell was wearing her nightgown, sobbing, shaking and slumped against her cane when Horta picked her up, Horta said.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Neon picked it up with a commitment to stand by the Not Rated cut alone.—
Gustavo Turner,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On select tours, a day-two agenda ventures deeper into the primary forest.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The teenager is looking to follow in his father's footsteps, and counts Black Label Society's Zakk Wylde as his favorite guitarist.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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If possible, set aside some time today to journal, listen to your favorite music, or just take a nap!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fifty-three percent of respondents at the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend said Vance was their preferred candidate in the 2028 Republican primary.—
Gabe Kaminsky,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Why Musk is pivoting Tesla watch now Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handpicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handpicked. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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