Synonyms of picked

picked 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpikt 

as in selected

singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking

a picked group of people for the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

picked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pick

1

as in harvested

to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use

pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harvested
• gathered
• reaped
• grew
• fished
• gleaned
• mowed
• sealed
• garnered
• accumulated
• cut
• captured
• foraged
• clammed
• hunted
• cropped
• shrimped
• bagged
• netted
• trapped
• whaled
• raised
• snared
• hayed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• planted
• seeded
• sowed

2

as in chose

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities

I pick you as my partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in provoked

to bring (something volatile or intense) into being

he seems to be trying to pick a fight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoked
• promoted
• raised
• triggered
• encouraged
• incited
• instigated
• brewed
• set in motion
• cultivated
• stimulated
• stirred (up)
• whipped (up)
• fermented
• abetted
• fomented
• inspired
• forwarded
• fostered
• nurtured
• motivated
• sowed
• set off
• detonated
• furthered
• excited
• roused
• set
• nourished
• activated
• advanced
• galvanized
• fired
• enlivened
• energized
• inflamed
• quickened
• invigorated
• livened (up)
• vitalized
• pepped (up)
• jazzed (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• checked
• held
• discouraged
• regulated
• inhibited
• constrained
• restrained
• tamed
• curbed
• reined (in)
• settled
• calmed
• bridled
• quieted
• soothed
• subdued
• stilled
• allayed
• tranquilized

4

as in nibbled

to eat reluctantly and in small bites

still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nibbled
• pecked
• snacked
• grazed
• tasted
• noshed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gorged
• swilled
• pigged out
• overate
• gormandized

5

as in stabbed

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object

continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stabbed
• punctured
• jabbed
• pierced
• stuck
• pecked
• spitted
• speared
• sliced
• poked
• impaled
• skewered
• spiked
• transfixed
• punched
• harpooned
• pinked
• lanced
• ran through
• transpierced
• gored
• cut
• riddled
• pricked
• perforated
• spindled
• thrust
• knifed
• bayoneted
• gimleted
• pronged
• piked
• pinpricked
• dirked
• poniarded
• quilled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of picked

Verb

The prime minister and chief of staff had picked the general to coordinate the military mission of flipping Hungary to the Allied side. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Seurer was picked by the Seahawks in the third round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, but initially passed on playing in the NFL and was in the upstart USFL with the Los Angeles Express. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026

Joggers, bikers and rollerbladers carefully picked their way through the saltwater. — Alex Harris updated September 27, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026

What readers told us Thirty-six percent of readers who responded to our survey picked education as the cause that mattered most. — Chris Fusco, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are the other two spin options for the hosts, who have also picked three pace options in Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and all-rounder Nitish Reddy. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Wisconsin's offense broke down again just four plays later when Dixson picked Joseph off and returned it to the Badgers' 11. — CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026

Miami’s Amariyun Knighten picked it up and handed it to UConn receiver Zy’marion Lang to get on with the next play. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 27 Sep. 2026

Before the pandemic, the company overestimated demand, picked the wrong characters and made too many figurines, said Gerrick Johnson, senior research analyst at Seaport Research Partners, which has a buy rating on Funko. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing picked

• picked up