as in intercepting
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course
picked off more passes than any other player in the division
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Recent Examples of picking off
Sounds like Canada is picking off our friends.
—
CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
And Abrams-Draine still managed to emerge with just a few flecks of soot after getting thrown in the fire last season, picking off Justin Herbert in a loss to the Chargers and establishing himself as a building block in a spot start.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson, who had earlier recovered a fumble and has been on a playmaking tear, opened the second half by picking off Geno Smith and putting the Bears at the Raiders’ 40-yard line.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Unsurprisingly, a new Ghostface shows up on set and begins picking off both the cast and their real-life counterparts.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025
Staley struck again on the next possession, picking off a Sagapolutele sideline pass.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
The Dead Don't Die In Jim Jarmusch's absurdist apocalypse comedy, flesh-craving zombies raid the once-tranquil town of Centerville, picking off its residents one by one.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
The Soviets have put down a rebellion against the puppet government that ruled in Budapest and are now in the process of picking off the politicians, students, and general who had led it.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Indeed, what Ransom did after picking off Mason Rudolph and returning the ball 16 yards didn’t look much like that at all.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2025
CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
And Abrams-Draine still managed to emerge with just a few flecks of soot after getting thrown in the fire last season, picking off Justin Herbert in a loss to the Chargers and establishing himself as a building block in a spot start.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson, who had earlier recovered a fumble and has been on a playmaking tear, opened the second half by picking off Geno Smith and putting the Bears at the Raiders’ 40-yard line.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Unsurprisingly, a new Ghostface shows up on set and begins picking off both the cast and their real-life counterparts.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025
Staley struck again on the next possession, picking off a Sagapolutele sideline pass.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
The Dead Don't Die In Jim Jarmusch's absurdist apocalypse comedy, flesh-craving zombies raid the once-tranquil town of Centerville, picking off its residents one by one.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
The Soviets have put down a rebellion against the puppet government that ruled in Budapest and are now in the process of picking off the politicians, students, and general who had led it.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Indeed, what Ransom did after picking off Mason Rudolph and returning the ball 16 yards didn’t look much like that at all.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking off
Verb
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Both played well in the postseason, too, with Durant intercepting three passes and breaking up seven more and Curl making a big impact in the divisional victory over the Chicago Bears, not least of all with an overtime interception.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
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Although Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting 27 missiles and 315 drones out of 342 projectiles, the mega-strike, which targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, left half of Kyiv without electricity amid bitter cold.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thomas then appeared to quickly lunge at Leon, swiftly grabbing and lifting him up before body slamming the suspect to the ground.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thousands of protesters met in front of City Hall in the afternoon, before many marched to the federal detention center, where a mob of violent agitators swarmed the area, pushing a large construction dumpster and blocking the entrance to the building's loading dock.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Much of the group later dispersed after they were threatened with arrest by local law enforcement for blocking the road.—
KIMBERLEE KRUESI,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20off. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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