picking off

present participle of pick off
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of picking off After leading the team in the preseason with 16 tackles and picking off multiple passes in training camp, the staff elected to go with Alijah Clark instead for special teams purposes. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026 The Centurion defense played a big part in things, picking off five Olympian passes. Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Gullion has observed such grouse picking off nearly 50 buds per minute. Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 In the version that had taken shape in my mind over time, he was perched in a clinic window, picking off random people in the parking lot. Margrét Ann Thors, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026 However, working against the backup units, Kilgore has found himself around the ball quite a bit, even picking off an inaccurate pass from Shane Buechele on Saturday. Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 When a masked slasher in a Ghostface mask begins picking off kids at Sidney’s high school, everyone puts their heads together to pinpoint the killer. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Harriet died a few years before Leo, and then Leo passed, picking off enemy planes in a brief delirium. Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 30 May 2026 Not opportunistically picking off babies from the ground. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking off
Verb
  • Moments later, in the distance, the familiar sounds of air defenses intercepting drones resound.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Defense played a big part in the victory for the Hawks by intercepting three passes.
    Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The burger eventually went viral, grabbing the attention of corporate, which put a stop to it, Eater reported in 2013.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Springshot urged the court to pause Spirit’s data sale until a transparent forensic process establishes that none of the data Google is grabbing is actually owned by third parties.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis exploited them in their April 2023 meeting, blocking a couple of early left hooks in the Las Vegas fight and waiting for his opportunity.
    Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The justices did not give their reasoning for blocking the new map, as is often the case in rulings on its emergency docket.
    Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Picking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20off. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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