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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of picking off
The lasting memory of his seven-year NFL tenure will be the astute recognition of a Seahawks goal-line concept, blowing up receiver Ricardo Lockette and picking off quarterback Russell Wilson to let New England prevail.
—
Sam Warren, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
Quadruple Loop This jump is more difficult because Malinin takes off and lands on the same leg, without the assistance of picking off the ice.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Sam Warren, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
Quadruple Loop This jump is more difficult because Malinin takes off and lands on the same leg, without the assistance of picking off the ice.
—Alice Park, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking off
Verb
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The first steal — intercepting a second-quarter pass by LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley — tied Harmon with Waggoneer in the UT record books.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
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Russia suspected of intercepting EU satellites Russian space vehicles have approached European satellites and intercepted their communications, officials believe.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hearing the faint sirens of the white police officers who have been monitoring the area for no real reason, Kid attempts to blend into the party by grabbing the mic of the bored DJ—played by Parliament-Funkadelic’s George Clinton—to freestyle.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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Or, Stein recommends grabbing a bed/mattress vacuum that is made specifically for the mattress.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Millions of dollars in federal funds were set to flow once again to the Hudson River Tunnel Thursday night, after a federal court order blocking the bucks expired.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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While the popularity of these app-blocking devices increases (Novelli said the company has sold more than 60,000), questions remain about their efficacy when the people who buy them are mainly discovering the devices through the internet—and talking about them on social media.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20off. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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