CULLING Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

culling

verb

present participle of cull

as in selecting

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities culled the best short stories from the author's body of writings

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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 culling Those who support the baboons being removed say the only serious alternative is culling. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026 The past five years were a culling season of sorts for the Prada Group. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 Still, Martin and other experts emphasized that old books are thrown away—and subsequently destroyed—all the time, even for non-academic reasons, by libraries that are simply culling their collections. — Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026 But with female crabs able to produce up to 8 million eggs every season, culling barely dented their numbers. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 The agency has dealt with homeowners illegally culling trees to improve their views in the past, but those are dwarfed by the scale of these poisonings, Cowen said. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 That situation makes the roster culling an emotional topic for those whose list status has been questioned. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026 So what else can be lost alongside the military culling diversity from its ranks? — Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026 Germany banned chick culling back in 2022, even before commercially viable in-ovo sexing machines existed. — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for culling

Verb

Because mRNA vaccines can be developed and manufactured more quickly than traditional shots, scientists could wait until later in the year before selecting which influenza strains to target.

— Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
This includes selecting suitable cutting tools, refining machining procedures, and incorporating robotic arms into assembly tasks.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of selecting

Verb

Price optimization means choosing prices that advance business goals, such as increasing profits, attracting shoppers or clearing unsold goods.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Traditionally, choosing a nozzle size involves a compromise between detail and speed.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of choosing

Verb

While the three were picking their way through a clump of trees at the far end of the cornfield, half a dozen does came out of the willows single file, walked under my platform within six yards of me, and started to feed.

— Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
The farm’s famous U-Pick strawberries are expected to be ready for picking Thursdays through Saturdays by Christmas in the adjacent property.

— Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of picking

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culled

culling

culls

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“Culling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culling. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of culling

verb

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