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
Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 4 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
With smaller pests like aphids, the cultural control option extends less into hand-picking and more into treatment.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
Waste picking requires no education, no legal status, and no capital.
—CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Along with flower picking, visitors to Langwater can enjoy a farm store, an ice cream window, a lunch corner, weekly farmers' markets and various special events.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 11 Apr. 2026
According to the company, the layouts within the fulfillment center are optimized for high-SKU density, and are designed to enable rapid picking across deep garment inventories and high-volume footwear assortments.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
This deal is ripe for the picking!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Brooklyn is left picking through the best of the rest in a draft where the drop-off after the top four still feels like a cliff.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Laney-Hamilton, of course, drained the jumper with Kneepkens picking herself up off the hardwood.
—Fiifi Frimpong, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
The Blueprint included picking the right high school.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026
The Republican contends the selection came down to Democratic supervisors picking a political ally.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Six blue jars lined up in our mother’s pantry, with six blue silhouettes of sweet young nuns picking berries on their creamy white labels.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
North will now join Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and Key in picking their team for Lord’s that is expected to still be similar to the one humbled 4-1 by Australia with the exception of a new opening batter.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Either apply the product to the back of your hand before picking it up with a brush, or simply swipe it directly onto your cheeks, tapping it in with your fingertips.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Noun
The art section of most thrift shops is ripe for the picking.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 4 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
With smaller pests like aphids, the cultural control option extends less into hand-picking and more into treatment.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
Waste picking requires no education, no legal status, and no capital.
—CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Along with flower picking, visitors to Langwater can enjoy a farm store, an ice cream window, a lunch corner, weekly farmers' markets and various special events.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 11 Apr. 2026
According to the company, the layouts within the fulfillment center are optimized for high-SKU density, and are designed to enable rapid picking across deep garment inventories and high-volume footwear assortments.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
This deal is ripe for the picking!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
There is nothing quite like the joy of picking fresh fruit from your own fruit tree.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Brooklyn is left picking through the best of the rest in a draft where the drop-off after the top four still feels like a cliff.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Laney-Hamilton, of course, drained the jumper with Kneepkens picking herself up off the hardwood.
—Fiifi Frimpong, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
The Blueprint included picking the right high school.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026
The Republican contends the selection came down to Democratic supervisors picking a political ally.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Six blue jars lined up in our mother’s pantry, with six blue silhouettes of sweet young nuns picking berries on their creamy white labels.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
North will now join Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and Key in picking their team for Lord’s that is expected to still be similar to the one humbled 4-1 by Australia with the exception of a new opening batter.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Either apply the product to the back of your hand before picking it up with a brush, or simply swipe it directly onto your cheeks, tapping it in with your fingertips.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking
Noun
-
From the looming white-domed oven emerge the flakiest pies, feteer, built of gauzy layers of dough, pressed with ghee and stretched, then folded one inside another around your choice of filling.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The Taurus Sun sextiles Jupiter in your 4th House of Home, making practical choices around security, family, or resources feel unusually constructive.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The new limits on harvesting energy from the V6 to charge the battery on the move should reduce the potential for huge speed differentials like the one that caused Oliver Bearman’s crash in Japan, and energy management was (thankfully) not much of a topic this weekend.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
4 May 2026
-
Types of Culinary Thyme Many gardeners treat culinary thyme as an annual, buying pre-started plants each spring, harvesting them throughout the summer and early fall, and then composting them at season's end.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In selecting Norwich, a city centrally located in the eastern part of the state, the team has found a home stadium that looks much different than the large-scale plans Swanston had for a $1 billion waterfront stadium and mixed-use development project in Bridgeport.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
However, the Dolphins were convinced enough about Douglas’ blend of size, speed and athleticism to merit them passing on other receivers, selecting him 75th overall.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
Through the band members’ stories, Méndez guides readers expertly through a historical landscape that may be unfamiliar to them and examines thought-provoking ideas about art and protest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Sip the famous Pseudo Sue IPA, or sample exploratory and seasonal beers while nibbling on pub favorites like cheese curds.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And then there’s some outings where there’s too much nibbling with the cutter, with the sweeper, as opposed to staying on the attack.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The man was later convicted of stabbing his girlfriend and is serving 15 years in prison for the attack.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Preliminary information indicated the stabbing victim may have been mistaken for another person, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The state’s gubernatorial election, for example, has prompted concern that two Republicans could shut out the Democratic candidates.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Rulings in the first two cases will center on whether the map itself is legal or if it should be struck down, decisions that could have major implications for the 2026 election.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Having Last Driver be such a vehicular-centric book led him to being open to changing up its reading style and choosing to put it out in a landscape format.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
-
People are building scent wardrobes, not just choosing a single signature.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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