Synonyms of handpicked

handpicked 1 of 2

adjective

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

• selected
• select
• favorite
• preferred
• chosen
• favored
• picked
• elect
• cherry-picked
• of choice
• choice
• first-line
• fashionable
• screened
• exclusive
• culled
• picked over
• winnowed (out)
• weeded (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ordinary
• average
• common
• commonplace
• run-of-the-mill

handpicked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of handpick

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

• selected
• picked
• chose
• elected
• named
• took
• preferred
• culled
• designated
• cherry-picked
• tagged
• singled (out)
• opted (for)
• appointed
• nominated
• tapped
• adopted
• accepted
• preselected
• marked
• set
• embraced
• tabbed
• settled (on or upon)
• espoused
• fixed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejected
• refused
• turned down
• declined
• disapproved
• discarded
• repudiated
• spurned
• jettisoned
• negatived
• threw out
• threw away

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of handpicked

Adjective

The judge ruled that Kennedy’s handpicked advisors were appointed improperly. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026

Warsh comes in as the handpicked nominee of a president who has been bullying the Fed for years for lower rates. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 16 June 2026

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