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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of picking off
Steph Curry pitched the ball to Draymond Green, who set a screen and immediately tossed it back to Curry while picking off a defender.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Woo cleared the base paths after picking off the runner for the second out of the inning.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Charlisse-Leger Walker followed her lead, picking off a pass and kicking it ahead to Jaquez, who drew a trip to the line.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Bonner, who was re-signed by the new regime, logged 90 defensive snaps last season, permitting a TD reception but also picking off a pass.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
In the 2025 regular season with the Rams, Durant hauled in three interceptions before picking off three more in the playoffs, including two in the NFC Divisional Round overtime win against the Chicago Bears.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
Fitzpatrick spent most of six seasons with the Steelers, making the All-Pro team three times while picking off 18 passes during that time.
—Dennis Waszak, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Unsurprisingly, a new Ghostface shows up on set and begins picking off both the cast and their real-life counterparts.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
Among those career interceptions were the game-sealing one against the Minnesota Vikings, picking off the great Fran Tarkenton to give the Steelers the Super Bowl IX victory — the franchise’s first.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Woo cleared the base paths after picking off the runner for the second out of the inning.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Charlisse-Leger Walker followed her lead, picking off a pass and kicking it ahead to Jaquez, who drew a trip to the line.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Bonner, who was re-signed by the new regime, logged 90 defensive snaps last season, permitting a TD reception but also picking off a pass.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
In the 2025 regular season with the Rams, Durant hauled in three interceptions before picking off three more in the playoffs, including two in the NFC Divisional Round overtime win against the Chicago Bears.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
Fitzpatrick spent most of six seasons with the Steelers, making the All-Pro team three times while picking off 18 passes during that time.
—Dennis Waszak, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Unsurprisingly, a new Ghostface shows up on set and begins picking off both the cast and their real-life counterparts.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
Among those career interceptions were the game-sealing one against the Minnesota Vikings, picking off the great Fran Tarkenton to give the Steelers the Super Bowl IX victory — the franchise’s first.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking off
Verb
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Brown, who struggled as a shooter early in the game, forced turnovers on consecutive Sixers possessions during that stretch, first drawing an offensive foul on Andre Drummond and then intercepting a Paul George pass.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
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Hochstein and co-defendant Jody Glidden face charges of unlawfully intercepting oral statements.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Jaguars used their first pick of the NFL draft to land the blocking tight end Friday night, grabbing him in the second round with the 56th selection.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Seahawks stayed put yet again at the end of the second round, grabbing TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th pick.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The 6-foot-2, 207-pounder has the short-area quickness, yards-after-the catch ability and run-blocking toughness that coach Kyle Shanahan craves.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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To wrap up Day 2, the Dolphins took a pair of wide receivers and an in-line blocking tight end with their three picks in the third round.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20off. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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