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
Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
There are also fresh strawberries ripe for the picking, with blackberry vines along the side of the home.
—Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
In addition to damage that can occur from gel and acrylic nails, brittleness, thinning, peeling and splitting can also be caused by biting, picking, and harsh chemicals.
—Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 2 Mar. 2026
There are narrated tractor wagon rides giving tours around the fields along with attractions such as the Artist’s Garden, Sweet Pea Maze and Santa’s Playground, along with blueberry picking on certain days.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Joining them are The Steel Wheels, known for their soulful Americana style, and the all-female ensemble Sister Sadie, bringing tight vocals, crisp picking and bold bluegrass spirit.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Feb. 2026
The short video shows Mychelle in a hospital gown picking at a pastry, along with what appears to be a case for a portable breast pump in her lap.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The need to turn parameter picking from an art into a science was one of the reasons Schneider established the Climate Modeling Alliance, CLIMA, in 2019.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
Amazon is quietly shelving its Blue Jay project months after introducing the robotic picking and stowing system in a South Carolina fulfillment center last October.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Winds were predicted to subside in the evening hours on Saturday before picking back up on Sunday morning, albeit at lower speeds than Saturday morning.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Kaczynski, a former prime minister and Law & Justice co-founder, has a track record of successfully picking relatively unknown candidates for the highest posts in the country.
—Maciej Martewicz, Bloomberg, 7 Mar. 2026
This isn’t a tech and market-picking game anymore, Breyer told Fortune.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
It has now been sold into Central and Eastern Europe, with commercial net TV2 picking it up for Hungary.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
The Patriots are back in a familiar position of picking late in the first round of the NFL Draft.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
Stephon Castle has been Cunningham’s primary defender, responsible for picking him up for a full 94 feet.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Parents picking the children up from STEM camp will be allowed on the Naval Academy base at the end of the event at Gate 8.
—Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
No competition, no tryouts, no picking by committee.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
There are also fresh strawberries ripe for the picking, with blackberry vines along the side of the home.
—Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
In addition to damage that can occur from gel and acrylic nails, brittleness, thinning, peeling and splitting can also be caused by biting, picking, and harsh chemicals.
—Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 2 Mar. 2026
There are narrated tractor wagon rides giving tours around the fields along with attractions such as the Artist’s Garden, Sweet Pea Maze and Santa’s Playground, along with blueberry picking on certain days.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Joining them are The Steel Wheels, known for their soulful Americana style, and the all-female ensemble Sister Sadie, bringing tight vocals, crisp picking and bold bluegrass spirit.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Feb. 2026
The short video shows Mychelle in a hospital gown picking at a pastry, along with what appears to be a case for a portable breast pump in her lap.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The need to turn parameter picking from an art into a science was one of the reasons Schneider established the Climate Modeling Alliance, CLIMA, in 2019.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
Amazon is quietly shelving its Blue Jay project months after introducing the robotic picking and stowing system in a South Carolina fulfillment center last October.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Finding the right pillow is a lot like picking the perfect paint color—there are thousands of options to narrow down, and each one can make an impact on how cozy your bedroom feels.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Winds were predicted to subside in the evening hours on Saturday before picking back up on Sunday morning, albeit at lower speeds than Saturday morning.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Kaczynski, a former prime minister and Law & Justice co-founder, has a track record of successfully picking relatively unknown candidates for the highest posts in the country.
—Maciej Martewicz, Bloomberg, 7 Mar. 2026
This isn’t a tech and market-picking game anymore, Breyer told Fortune.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
It has now been sold into Central and Eastern Europe, with commercial net TV2 picking it up for Hungary.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
The Patriots are back in a familiar position of picking late in the first round of the NFL Draft.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
Stephon Castle has been Cunningham’s primary defender, responsible for picking him up for a full 94 feet.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Parents picking the children up from STEM camp will be allowed on the Naval Academy base at the end of the event at Gate 8.
—Chevall Pryce, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking
Noun
-
Atrani In Positano’s quieter Fornillo area, this three-bedroom villa includes multiple terraces and garden spaces for dining, lounging, and sunset BBQs—and is a smart choice for those traveling with a larger group.—
Angela Tafoya,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
March 21 – April 19 Day-to-day choices pack surprising potential for peace.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What’s more, cities across China such as Beijing, Wuhan, and Shanghai are opening training sites for acclimating robots to various settings (including environments that mimic a retail outlet, an elderly care facility, and a smart home) and harvesting standardized data.—
Eric Schmidt,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Focused on the high-value goal of harvesting Helium-3 for quantum computing and fusion energy, Interlune is developing industrial-scale technology for resource extraction.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That careful attention anticipated Ali’s own process of selecting all the looks for their New Year’s Eve wedding at the former Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In the Galacticoaster, for instance, riders will build a virtual approximation of a spaceship from a touchscreen, selecting options for wings, cannons and more.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When not in the newsroom, Munis is often out on the streets with his camera, capturing the perfect portrait or settling in to watch a thought-provoking film.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
-
While teasing Season 2 and what’s to come, the series’ creators tout the advantages the audio format offers for thought-provoking science fiction.—
Jordaan Ashley,
Variety,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Our fellow guests were all seated at garden tables, nibbling sandwiches cut into little triangles and sipping from fancy teacups.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This is an inexpensive and simple way to deter nibbling animals.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ivan Miller, 22, of Blakesburg, Iowa, admitted to shooting the three women and stabbing one of them in interviews with investigators, according to a criminal complaint.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The next morning, as Nguyen was getting ready for work, Tran shot her in the arm with a BB gun, forced her into a closet and then began stabbing her repeatedly with a knife, Campbell said.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Republicans may be dismayed to see the two popular party leaders battling it out in what promises to be a brutal and expensive election.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
During the most recent round of school board elections, for instance, 44 of 47 candidates endorsed by teacher unions won their elections.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kiwis moving abroad is not uncommon, and more Kiwis generally are choosing to leave than before; in the year ending November 2025, almost 122,000 people emigrated, a 4% jump from the previous year and higher than a previous spike in 2012.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Respect yourself by choosing quality items over the cheapest possible options, then treat those purchases with care.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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