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

Jeffrey Katzenberg, then a studio executive at Paramount Pictures, hand-picked the Happy Days star for the job, but at the time, Winkler had a bad feeling about accepting it. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

When picked, the department’s new chief will inherit a police force roiled by controversy and lawsuits in recent years. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Wilfred picked five correct results last week, everyone else taking part picked four. — Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The Texans sacked Allen eight times and picked him off twice in their last meeting. — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

Dylan, 22, and Ryan have picked each other’s brains about hockey, something that has helped the 18-year-old along the way. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

The inaugural release will feature an Elijah Craig barrel picked by UK Athletics Director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC J Batt, who traveled to Bardstown to select the bourbon barrel. — Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2026

More than 56,400 shoppers have awarded it a five-star rating — and over 700 just picked it up on sale. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Bears have a new coach in ex-SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods and are picked seventh in Conference USA in their second FBS season. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing picked

• picked up