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
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
Not Trump, who, in the midst of a war with a state sponsor of terrorism, has persisted in picking fights over the funding of the Department of Homeland Security.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
This deal is ripe for the picking!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
The best use of a financial adviser to help with investments is not in stock picking or market timing — but in deciding what percentage of your assets should be invested in stocks.
—Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
San Francisco kicked off its Saturday selections by picking Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton with the 107th overall pick.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Some may have been surprised at the Panthers picking Monroe, but upgrading at left tackle was their best route.
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers addressed some of the more flaring holes in their roster in the 2026 NFL Draft, picking several offensive and defensive lineman in hopes of bolstering their strength in the trenches.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
But, $126,700 isn’t a bad day of picking lottery numbers.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
The Broncos have only gone through two previous drafts — 1986 and 1995 — without picking in the first round or second round.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Ballentine offered several ideas for picking a good one.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
With the Chicago Bears picking toward the end of the first round for the first time in years, their NFL draft scenarios are numerous.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
Not Trump, who, in the midst of a war with a state sponsor of terrorism, has persisted in picking fights over the funding of the Department of Homeland Security.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
This deal is ripe for the picking!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
The best use of a financial adviser to help with investments is not in stock picking or market timing — but in deciding what percentage of your assets should be invested in stocks.
—Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
To get there, a city needs a gigantic outdoor footprint, real tourism appeal, public transit, adequate hotel inventory, and a backdrop that makes people want to show up even if their team is picking 24th and taking an offensive lineman.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
San Francisco kicked off its Saturday selections by picking Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton with the 107th overall pick.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Some may have been surprised at the Panthers picking Monroe, but upgrading at left tackle was their best route.
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers addressed some of the more flaring holes in their roster in the 2026 NFL Draft, picking several offensive and defensive lineman in hopes of bolstering their strength in the trenches.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
But, $126,700 isn’t a bad day of picking lottery numbers.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
The Broncos have only gone through two previous drafts — 1986 and 1995 — without picking in the first round or second round.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Ballentine offered several ideas for picking a good one.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
With the Chicago Bears picking toward the end of the first round for the first time in years, their NFL draft scenarios are numerous.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking
Noun
-
Make one intentional choice with your money or time, and follow through fully.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Havertz is Julian Nagelsmann’s first-choice forward and, if fit, will surely start as part of a front three with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala at the World Cup.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to raising livestock, canning foods, harvesting her own fruits and vegetables, crocheting and more, the country music star takes pride in her farm-to-table way of living.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
One of Kukuiʻula’s unique amenities is the 10-acre upcountry organic farm, which provides produce and flowers for the resort community as well as opportunities for residents to connect with the land by harvesting crops, cutting tropical blooms, picnicking, or hiking and biking.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After selecting Cooper and Ponds, the Jets became the fourth team in the modern era to select multiple Indiana players in the same draft [49ers, Giants, and Bears].—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
With tight end believed to be the next biggest need on their roster, selecting Raridon in the third round makes sense for the Patriots after the rest of the league went on a run at the position in the second and third rounds.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The films below offer up thought-provoking answers, but not all of them are bullish on humanity’s chances.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
-
On a brighter note, under this thought-provoking transit, networking can become surprisingly fruitful.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
In October 2025, a TikTok user posted a video of a gray squirrel nibbling on the mouth end of a vape device in Philadelphia.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The woman, whose identity has not been made public, allegedly is seen hitting the man believed to be Alexander in the back, resulting in him promptly stabbing her in the hand.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Prosecutors said Andrews attacked Cressman, 39, striking him with a cricket bat before fatally stabbing him.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The 2020 election was rigged, too.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Public opinion, history and, especially, the surging price of gasoline and groceries, all point to a Democratic takeover of the House in November’s midterm election.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Local water is also more reliable, even though predicting rain in the Mediterranean climate of Southern California is about as easy as choosing a winning Super Lotto number.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Dolphins doubled down on Red Raiders prospects after, earlier Friday, choosing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with their lone second-round pick.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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