handpicked 1 of 2

adjective

as in selected
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking the senator's handpicked campaign staff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

handpicked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of handpick
as in picked
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities handpicked what she considered to be the cutest kitten from the litter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 handpicked
Adjective
The county faced DeSantis’ wrath after local officials criticized his pro-development legislation and voters rejected his handpicked candidates at the ballot box in November 2024. — Liv Coleman, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026 Trump cranks heat on Warsh Friday’s comments show Trump resuming his pressure campaign against the Fed, which had eased since the appointment of Warsh, his handpicked successor to Jerome Powell. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 His handpicked successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel, read out a handwritten message Castro signed. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 The judge ruled that Kennedy’s handpicked advisors were appointed improperly. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026 The strategy may bring poor short-term optics for Schumer and give Republicans and Democratic primary opponents something to attack his handpicked candidates on. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026 Yet the handpicked chair of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has downplayed the importance of the vaccine for measles, as well as for polio and other highly contagious, deadly diseases. — Jerome Adams, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026 Al Olszewski, a former state senator who is running for Zinke's seat, accused both Daines and Zinke of betraying the people of Montana and urged voters to reject their handpicked successors. — Matthew Brown The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026 Nance proposed bringing the story of rampant fraud to a handpicked journalist, who would interview a suspect cooperating with police, a retailer and someone whose identity had been stolen for the scam. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handpicked
  1. selected
  2. picked
  3. select
  4. favorite
  5. preferred
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the first stage can handle different solid rocket motors for pre-selected range, speed, and performance profiles, as well as different booster types and other modular components.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Pope Leo Village Homes initiative is underway in Bronzeville with five of the seven area homes under construction and two with selected homeowners.
    — Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of selected
Verb
  • Paul picked three wickets in the 19th over to wrap up the innings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The effect was clear in Nevada’s 2024 Senate race, which Democrats narrowly won as nearly 5 percent of voters picked a candidate outside the two major parties.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of picked
Adjective
  • John Fogerty, rising singer-songwriter Emma Ogier, and others are slated to open on select dates.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that means defaults can differ meaningfully between full-service and select-service properties within the same loyalty portfolio.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of select
Adjective
  • Our customers pair all of their favorite knits back to their favorite pair of jeans that’s vintage or what not.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Ahead, find our favorite chocolate brown suede pieces for fall, including boots, flats, and several fun ways to accessorize.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of favorite
Adjective
  • An Ipsos poll out Friday finds that a majority, or about 51% of the population, say chocolate is their preferred Halloween candy of choice.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Poland never underestimated Russia threat watch now Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of preferred

Browse Nearby Words

handpick
handpicked
handpicking
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All