as in squeezed
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plucked
Its members were plucked from 120,000 international applicants to be rigorously trained, molded, and manufactured into international superstars through K-pop methodology.
—
Elizabeth Gulino,
Allure,
25 June 2026
Editor Picks One way to weed through the pages and pages of deals is going straight to the Vogue editor picks section, to see what the team has hand-plucked across all categories.
—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
This gorgeous, minimalist rug from Nuloom looks like it was plucked straight from a five-star resort with its striking border and jute-like texture.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
However, items saved by survivors or plucked from the water by rescuers can be sold and often fetch big sums.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
However, items saved by survivors or plucked from the water by rescuers can be sold and often fetch big sums — a life jacket worn by a passenger sold for just over $900,000 in April while a gold pocket watch given to the ship captain who rescued the survivors sold for nearly $2 million in 2024.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Miami plucked a top prospect out of North Miami Beach on Sunday evening.
—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
The charming restaurant serves hyper-local cuisine, with many ingredients plucked straight from the gardens.
—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Either way, what ancient musicians realized is that changing the length of a string also changed its vibration when plucked, which in turn changed the musical pitch.
—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
Elizabeth Gulino,
Allure,
25 June 2026
Editor Picks One way to weed through the pages and pages of deals is going straight to the Vogue editor picks section, to see what the team has hand-plucked across all categories.
—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
This gorgeous, minimalist rug from Nuloom looks like it was plucked straight from a five-star resort with its striking border and jute-like texture.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
However, items saved by survivors or plucked from the water by rescuers can be sold and often fetch big sums.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
However, items saved by survivors or plucked from the water by rescuers can be sold and often fetch big sums — a life jacket worn by a passenger sold for just over $900,000 in April while a gold pocket watch given to the ship captain who rescued the survivors sold for nearly $2 million in 2024.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Miami plucked a top prospect out of North Miami Beach on Sunday evening.
—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
The charming restaurant serves hyper-local cuisine, with many ingredients plucked straight from the gardens.
—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Either way, what ancient musicians realized is that changing the length of a string also changed its vibration when plucked, which in turn changed the musical pitch.
—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plucked
Verb
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Like many European carmakers, it has been squeezed by fresh tariffs on its exports to the United States as well as struggling to counter the rise of Chinese electric vehicles manufacturers, including BYD.
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Until then, concern that the smartphone market would continue to be squeezed by memory chip shortages had led investors to take a cautious view on Qualcomm’s prospects.
Verb
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The first inning looked promising as Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda singled, and Cedric Mullins hustled his bunt attempt into a hit to load the bases.
-
As bankers hustled behind closed doors to price the deal and reporters indicated a first price of as high as $175, SpaceX perp-traders on Hyperliquid were buying and selling futures as high as $180 around the opening bell and as low as $153 just before the first trade came in at $150.
Verb
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While the driver was unharmed, per the station, CBS affiliate KFDM-TV in Beaumont said its photographer was stung once while at the scene, according to KBTX.
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Drivers stung by high gas prices have enjoyed some welcome relief over recent weeks, however, even as the impact of the Iran war continues to choke off oil supply.
Verb
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The fans were cheated Sunday out of a chance to see an interesting pitching matchup between Shota Imanaga and Dylan Cease, the former Cubs farmhand and former White Sox pitcher.
-
Looking the other way A 2020 study of 840 undergraduate college students found that 32% of them had cheated in some way on an exam.
Verb
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Video from Kentucky showed emergency crews wading through knee-deep floodwaters to rescue residents who got stuck in their cars amid the floods Monday.
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As the gut is considered a second brain, the process involves listening in with a stethoscope while manual, hands-on therapy helps the body shift more easily between fight-or-flight and not get stuck in one.
Verb
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Now, Greg is screwed because, one week in, everyone is having a great time.
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No matter who ends up on the Iron Throne, the common people get screwed.
Verb
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Bryson Stott's three-run homer highlighted Philadelphia's eight-run outburst in the ninth inning and the Phillies rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 14-9 on Tuesday night.
-
Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
Cite this Entry
“Plucked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plucked. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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