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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 culling The Legislature did start culling license plates, eliminating those that didn’t sell well. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026 Because not everyone on the island owns a rifle, men often work in groups to locate the animal that has been selected for culling. — NPR, 4 Apr. 2026 Germany banned chick culling back in 2022, even before commercially viable in-ovo sexing machines existed. — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 The Lake County Forest Preserves proposed culling deer to balance nature, and there was some controversy. — Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026 The story has been decades in the making as the Colombian government tried multiple nonfatal methods of culling the hippo population, including neutering and relocating. — Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 The winners include heartbreaking images of an elephant culling in Zimbabwe, a massive apartment fire in Hong Kong, and the devastating aftermath of drone attacks in Ukraine. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026 Mandarin Oriental is culling a portfolio of Exceptional Homes, which, while not necessarily linked to hotels, are appointed with amenities expected of the luxury brand. — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026 Last year, CargoWise and E2Open parent WiseTech Global announced a nearly 30 percent culling of its staff through 2027, overtly tying the job cuts to its deployments of AI technologies. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culling
  1. selecting
  2. choosing
  3. picking
Verb
  • Submitting a tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive and clicking the link underneath their picture.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
  • Thoughtful Accessories Anderson keeps her accessories to a minimum, but selecting a few, such as her straw picnic bag and ‘90s-style sunglasses, is key to making an outfit more interesting.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Definition of selecting
Verb
  • Healthier lawns can be achieved by watering less often, improving soil, and choosing drought-tolerant grass types.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
  • Despite choosing basketball, Wilson still gets a few opportunities to put on a baseball glove.
    — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Definition of choosing
Verb
  • Bryce Eldridge handled the rest, picking Schmitt’s throw out of the dirt to complete the double play.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • The studio showed strong instincts when picking creative partners on the horror side, too.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of picking

Browse Nearby Words

culled
culling
culls
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Cite this Entry

“Culling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on culling

Nglish: Translation of culling for Spanish Speakers

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