as in choice
the act or process of selecting
the picking of new recruits went on for three days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in harvesting
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use
pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selecting
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
I pick you as my partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
he seems to be trying to pick a fight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in nibbling
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stabbing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picking
Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
Go apple picking at Grieg Farm.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 17 May 2026
Scratching and picking can also delay healing and cause scarring or permanent discoloration of the skin.
—Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 14 May 2026
The approach was aimed at prioritizing employee safety during the picking and packing of orders and was designed to reduce the distance delivery partners need to travel, enabling faster delivery times.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The Ripari Villabruna dental work may have been a logical progression from tooth-picking, a practice which not only removes stray food particles but can also pry loose infected tissue (don’t try this at home).
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Regular Harvesting Frequent picking is essential for prolonging your cucumber harvest.
—Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Putting in the elbow grease can be more powerful than a flashy college degree or pedigree—and the former Goldman Sachs CEO said great careers are actually ripe for the picking if professionals seize the moment and work hard.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
These were nearing the end of the season but there were still plenty of the tightly closed, spiky bulbous vegetables for the picking.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
No one was picking the Dons in this one.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
As previously reported by the Daily News, the process of picking a design, a developer, and a funding stream for a long-overdue overhaul of Penn Station has indeed been an opaque one ever since the feds took over last year.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
The Blue Men roam the aisles, picking folks to go on stage.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
For teams picking at the top of the draft, the decision comes down to the margins between pure skill and pro translation.
—Corey Pronman, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Nogueira shared a subsequent TikTok documenting the process of picking an outfit.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
This is as important, and as boring, in theory, as picking a fund for your 401(k), yet, improbably, the draft has become one of the largest events on the sporting calendar.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The president himself, the leader of your party who wanted this redistricting, has also been directly involved in some of these primary races, picking candidates.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
Noun
Come summer, colorful cornucopias of tomatoes, okra, squash, peppers, and more, are ripe for the picking.
—Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
Go apple picking at Grieg Farm.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 17 May 2026
Scratching and picking can also delay healing and cause scarring or permanent discoloration of the skin.
—Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 14 May 2026
The approach was aimed at prioritizing employee safety during the picking and packing of orders and was designed to reduce the distance delivery partners need to travel, enabling faster delivery times.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The Ripari Villabruna dental work may have been a logical progression from tooth-picking, a practice which not only removes stray food particles but can also pry loose infected tissue (don’t try this at home).
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Regular Harvesting Frequent picking is essential for prolonging your cucumber harvest.
—Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Putting in the elbow grease can be more powerful than a flashy college degree or pedigree—and the former Goldman Sachs CEO said great careers are actually ripe for the picking if professionals seize the moment and work hard.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
These were nearing the end of the season but there were still plenty of the tightly closed, spiky bulbous vegetables for the picking.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
The doctors are meticulous about the medical side of operations, spending two years cherry picking the best new technologies and recruiting a team of doctors and therapists from some of Europe’s most respected spas, including Lanserhof, Chenot, and the Mayr clinics.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
No one was picking the Dons in this one.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
As previously reported by the Daily News, the process of picking a design, a developer, and a funding stream for a long-overdue overhaul of Penn Station has indeed been an opaque one ever since the feds took over last year.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
The Blue Men roam the aisles, picking folks to go on stage.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
For teams picking at the top of the draft, the decision comes down to the margins between pure skill and pro translation.
—Corey Pronman, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Nogueira shared a subsequent TikTok documenting the process of picking an outfit.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
This is as important, and as boring, in theory, as picking a fund for your 401(k), yet, improbably, the draft has become one of the largest events on the sporting calendar.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The president himself, the leader of your party who wanted this redistricting, has also been directly involved in some of these primary races, picking candidates.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking
Noun
-
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination only to realize your shoes were a terrible choice.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2026
-
Even so, the rooms remain an appealing choice for travelers who prioritize space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Landscape designer Ben Gordon of Metropolitan Garden and Design notes that harvesting the outer leaves first allows the inner leaves to continue growing, with many varieties ready to harvest by April or May.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2026
-
Cut-and-come-again is a gardening practice that involves harvesting only the outer, mature leaves of the plant, leaving young leaves or root systems alone.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
To do so, Forbes has developed a thorough methodology for identifying, vetting, and selecting candidates.—
BySteel Rose,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
The regional judges do not have the autonomy of selecting the shortlistees and winners for their region.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
On May 18, Venus will conclude its journey through the flirtatious and thought-provoking sign of Gemini and enter the sentimental and hopeless romantic sign of Cancer.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
The neighborhood’s creative spirit shines at Cam Raleigh, a dynamic contemporary art space with thought-provoking works rooted in community and regional narratives.—
Kristy Tolley,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Growing clover in your yard can distract deer and rabbits from nibbling on other garden plants.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
-
The parrot has since moved from Auteuil’s head to a perch on his shoulder, nibbling at his ear with complete proprietary confidence.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Authorities allege Medina was involved in a May 19 stabbing at Narragansett Town Beach as hundreds of teenagers packed the area.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
Also Thursday, Florida is scheduled to execute Richard Knight for the 2000 stabbing deaths of a pregnant woman and her 4-year-old daughter.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
An election with democratic conditions would take between seven and nine months of planning, Machado said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
-
Some of these requirements include free and fair elections, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, equal rights, separation of powers, accountability of leaders, political pluralism, a free press, majority rule tempered by minority rights and thoughtful citizen participation.—
Steven D. Reske,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Cyrus paired the look with minimal accessories, opting for a few bracelets and a ring, wearing her blonde hair straight, and choosing a dark smoky eye makeup look with natural lipstick.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
If the claims that AI is replacing human computer scientists are true, choosing such a major would seem quite foolhardy.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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