as in choice
the act or process of selecting
the picking of new recruits went on for three days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in harvesting
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use
pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selecting
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
I pick you as my partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
he seems to be trying to pick a fight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in nibbling
to eat reluctantly and in small bites
still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of picking
Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Because fall has the right conditions for pumpkin picking, the season will keep its hold on pumpkin spice flavor, and consumers will continue to eagerly await its return each year.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 24 Oct. 2025
Highlights include pumpkin picking, petting zoo, hayride, rock wall, apple cannons and facepainting on weekends along with Julian Food Truck and gift sop.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
Suddenly, Harner and her delicate voice and intricate acoustic finger picking had a small army of fans.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
As the realities of Dunbar’s medical needs and situation became public, the Fight Night actor’s lawyers were backed into a corner over their client’s cherry picking of CUW’s beliefs.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Now that's a deal ripe for the picking!
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Jeez, 2017 might have been my last season picking winners.
—Vic Tafur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Unlike seasonal farm jobs such as fruit picking, which often use H-2A guest worker visas, year-round agricultural operations such as dairy farms are ineligible for these visas.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Police said surveillance footage showed the student walking home as Love followed in her car before picking her up and driving her home.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
And Thanksgiving is no different, although picking the right potluck dish for the biggest food holiday of the year can be daunting.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Caughill called family members who were able to coordinate picking the couple up from the scene of the fire.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Thank you for picking the little man up!
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Reid had come to Music City like so many guitar-picking hopefuls.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Just one panelist is picking the New York Jets to earn their first win of the 2025 NFL season.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Lying in wait in London was another with a similarly fearsome pass rush and a quarterback capable of picking its defense apart.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
During apple picking season, my go-to combo included the skirt, Quince’s Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crewneck Sweater, and loafers.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Because fall has the right conditions for pumpkin picking, the season will keep its hold on pumpkin spice flavor, and consumers will continue to eagerly await its return each year.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 24 Oct. 2025
Highlights include pumpkin picking, petting zoo, hayride, rock wall, apple cannons and facepainting on weekends along with Julian Food Truck and gift sop.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
Suddenly, Harner and her delicate voice and intricate acoustic finger picking had a small army of fans.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
As the realities of Dunbar’s medical needs and situation became public, the Fight Night actor’s lawyers were backed into a corner over their client’s cherry picking of CUW’s beliefs.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Now that's a deal ripe for the picking!
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Jeez, 2017 might have been my last season picking winners.
—Vic Tafur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Unlike seasonal farm jobs such as fruit picking, which often use H-2A guest worker visas, year-round agricultural operations such as dairy farms are ineligible for these visas.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
On the cover of Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes, Jacobus featured one of the title characters picking its nose.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Police said surveillance footage showed the student walking home as Love followed in her car before picking her up and driving her home.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
And Thanksgiving is no different, although picking the right potluck dish for the biggest food holiday of the year can be daunting.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Caughill called family members who were able to coordinate picking the couple up from the scene of the fire.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Thank you for picking the little man up!
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Reid had come to Music City like so many guitar-picking hopefuls.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Just one panelist is picking the New York Jets to earn their first win of the 2025 NFL season.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Lying in wait in London was another with a similarly fearsome pass rush and a quarterback capable of picking its defense apart.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking
Noun
-
Vernengo said the reclassification of drug dealers as terrorists has led many in the region to assume that there is a push for a possible invasion of Venezuela, whose neighbors have no choice but to have a relationship with the United States.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
With fewer families able to afford lessons and operating costs on the rise, Jackson has had to make difficult choices just to keep his doors open.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As temperatures begin to cool, your gardening to-do list may include harvesting herbs that won’t survive impending freezing weather.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
-
When harvesting the nuts, pickers should wear gloves to protect their hands from the walnuts' juice, which will stain hands.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, selecting an optimal material for the transducer has proven difficult, as different candidates vary widely in electrical performance, surface characteristics, and long-term stability.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The team went on to make the third pick of the 2023 NBA draft, selecting Scoot Henderson, a guard.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This tender, wry and thought-provoking story offers a different perspective on looking for love, regret and the ‘what if’ of it all.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Skims is no stranger to bold and thought-provoking products, having previously caused a stir with its controversial line of face wraps.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Even shoppers nibbling on a slice of pizza seemed to be mocking him.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
-
But now social media is eating media-media’s lunch, nibbling into time that used to be spent watching TV and movies, particularly for younger generations, and refashioning itself less as a network and more as a broadcaster.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Usiripalli is accused of stabbing two 17-year-old boys, one in the shoulder area and one in the back of the head, with the same metal fork while on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt on Saturday, according to the news release.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
-
No information on the stabbing party has been released.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His relentless pursuit of deregulatory policies and ambitious budget cuts had won cheers from investors before the election last month.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Even before her election, tensions were rising between the two neighbors.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Members of the committee from both political parties criticized Underly for choosing to accept an alumni award at Indiana University instead of appearing before the committee Thursday to answer questions about student safety for the public that have arisen because of the Capital Times reporting.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
While Alana was selective about her wedding look, choosing a Vivienne Westwood gown, jewelry by Dorsey and a custom gold band by Sofia Kaman.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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