SELECTION Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'selection' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of selection are alternative , choice , election , option , and preference . While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," selection implies a range of choice. // a varied selection of furniture

Q: When is it sensible to use 'alternative' instead of 'selection'?

While the synonyms alternative and selection are close in meaning, alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility. // equally attractive alternatives

Q: When is 'choice' a more appropriate choice than 'selection'?

The synonyms choice and selection are sometimes interchangeable, but choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely. // freedom of choice

Q: When would 'election' be a good substitute for 'selection'?

The words election and selection can be used in similar contexts, but election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment. // doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

Q: In what contexts can 'option' take the place of 'selection'?

The words option and selection are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed. // the option of paying now or later

Q: When can 'preference' be used instead of 'selection'?

In some situations, the words preference and selection are roughly equivalent. However, preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections. // a preference for cool weather

selection

noun

sə-ˈlek-shən

Definition of selection

as in choice

the act or process of selecting his selection of a running mate was a long, tedious affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in bet

a person or thing that is chosen our selection was the third entrant in the dog show

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in option

the power, right, or opportunity to choose the inn's table d'hôte is excellent, but there's very limited selection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sampling

a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole a selection of the company's latest line of products for display at the trade show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun selection contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of selection are alternative, choice, election, option, and preference. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

When is it sensible to use alternative instead of selection?

While the synonyms alternative and selection are close in meaning, alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

When is choice a more appropriate choice than selection?

The synonyms choice and selection are sometimes interchangeable, but choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

When would election be a good substitute for selection?

The words election and selection can be used in similar contexts, but election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

In what contexts can option take the place of selection?

The words option and selection are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When can preference be used instead of selection?

In some situations, the words preference and selection are roughly equivalent. However, preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

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 selection Sawie has worked with OCA to provide technical support for seed selection, testing, monitoring and quality assurance to help establish a reliable supply of organic cotton seed that can be multiplied and made widely available to farmers. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Memory, orchestration, tool selection, planning and exception handling shouldn’t be treated as separate technical features. — Nicola Sfondrini, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The laptop’s port selection is generous, with a pair of USB Type-C ports on the left (40Gbps, supporting DisplayPort and power delivery). — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 Note that Podium also offers a less expensive Podium Gold subscription option, which does not get you the same unique selection that the Platinum offers. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for selection

Recent Examples of Synonyms for selection

Noun

As private longing collides with honor and social codes, each character has to reckon with what their choices cost.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
The choices are housed in the Atelier Vivier MTO cabinet, a silver console containing the available materials and hardware, while a digital component allows clients to visualize combinations before production begins.

— Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of choice

Noun

BetMGM is giving you the power with code FOXNEWS, which gives you a chance to claim up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Harder to tell with the upper deck (not a lot of lighting up there), but a similar percentage feels like a safe bet.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of bet

Noun

The Air Force wants CCAs to increase the number of aircraft available for a mission while giving pilots additional sensing, targeting, and engagement options.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
In exchange, users are given a smaller pool of options in place of endless swiping.

— Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of option

Noun

The sampling and sound bites are just as impressive but function more in service of the songs than as foreground.

— Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
The process has already turned up new ingredients, including new non-calorie sweeteners and non-sodium umami enhancers, which the company launched for commercial sampling this year.

— Joe Mullich, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sampling

Noun

Her party is already the largest opposition party in parliament, and a snap legislative election following the presidential vote could entrench it further.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
The Justice Department has charged about 90 people for various types of election misconduct so far this year, including 50 who are said to have voted as noncitizens.

— SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of election

Noun

But a few times in recent years, Hollins, a veterinarian, tricked Jonathan and slid a cotton swab into the giant tortoise's mouth to get a saliva sample.

— KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Much of that comes down to, again, the randomness that's part of small sample sizes.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of sample

Browse Nearby Words

selecting

selection

selections

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of selection

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on selection

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'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'?

Popular in Wordplay

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?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes