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
Relevance
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 plucked
On the Ann Demeulemeester runway line-up from which Lipa’s jacket was plucked, the military uniform piece was styled with a diaphanous cream slip dress and the same combat boots.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
He was plucked out of the basic-cable mines by Survivor’s creator, Mark Burnett, a British TV producer with a feel for brutal social drama.
—David Canfield, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026
Its gorgeous new three-mile-long beachfront promenade is bound to draw more visitors, ready to laze on honeyed sands and gorge on fresh seafood plucked from the waters directly out front.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Directed by Key, the video finds Yellowcard and Joel Madden rocking out inside a teen room plucked straight from the early-aughts.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
The town, which was settled by the Spanish in the mid-18th century, looks and feels like it was plucked out of a classic Western.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Mike Tomlin was an unknown when the Pittsburgh Steelers plucked him from obscurity in 2007 and handed the young and charismatic Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator one of the most stable jobs in sports.
—Will Graves, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
While Marty Supreme is only loosely inspired by Reisman, there are several sequences and character details plucked from his life.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
Arsene Wenger was plucked from ‘Japan’, as Sir Alex Ferguson memorably enunciated it, in 1996.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
He was plucked out of the basic-cable mines by Survivor’s creator, Mark Burnett, a British TV producer with a feel for brutal social drama.
—David Canfield, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026
Its gorgeous new three-mile-long beachfront promenade is bound to draw more visitors, ready to laze on honeyed sands and gorge on fresh seafood plucked from the waters directly out front.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Directed by Key, the video finds Yellowcard and Joel Madden rocking out inside a teen room plucked straight from the early-aughts.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
The town, which was settled by the Spanish in the mid-18th century, looks and feels like it was plucked out of a classic Western.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Mike Tomlin was an unknown when the Pittsburgh Steelers plucked him from obscurity in 2007 and handed the young and charismatic Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator one of the most stable jobs in sports.
—Will Graves, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
While Marty Supreme is only loosely inspired by Reisman, there are several sequences and character details plucked from his life.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
Arsene Wenger was plucked from ‘Japan’, as Sir Alex Ferguson memorably enunciated it, in 1996.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plucked
Verb
-
The best part of the orange — your orange, Chicago taxpayers — already has been squeezed for the most juice, likely explaining the sale.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Managers have become organizational shock absorbers, squeezed between executive decisions from above and team realities below.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Toronto hustled to a 14-point advantage before settling for a 32-24 lead after one quarter.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Fiala hustled back to block Eichel’s shot, but Eichel recovered it to find Stone on the doorstep for an uncontested winner.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The criticism stung deeper coming from someone who avoided Vietnam military service.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
His sarcasm stung almost daily, but the winning followed weekly.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After the Astros cheated to win the 2017 World Series, the Dodgers didn’t face them again until 2020.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Bondi forgave a crime that had put people’s lives at risk and cheated the government of vaccine doses that could have been given to others.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With all this ice, barges get stuck.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Cold temperatures that stuck in Iowa for over a week will continue, but will not be as frigid, forecasts show.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are other complications, of course — typical Marvel stuff — but even without them, Simon is still screwed.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2026
-
That doesn’t mean you’re screwed if your job is highly repetitive.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sure, some out there were robbing old people, choking people, robbing them, beating them up, taking their money, but Troy just wasn’t like that.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and the New York Knicks dominated the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 103-87 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plucked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plucked. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
