HANDPICKED Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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

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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 handpicked

Adjective

The judge ruled that Kennedy’s handpicked advisors were appointed improperly. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026 Warsh comes in as the handpicked nominee of a president who has been bullying the Fed for years for lower rates. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 16 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 Unlike Chapek, who alienated Disney’s creative divisions by having the media chiefs report to his handpicked ally, Kareem Daniel, there’s a sense that D’Amaro will approach the task with more delicacy, giving Walden a level of autonomy. — Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026 This was followed by roughly fifteen minutes of panicked tinkering as his handpicked team of elite coders tried to get their product back online. — Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handpicked

Adjective

Some cool features include a kill switch that automatically disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection fails, as well as split tunneling that allows selected apps to use the VPN connection while others transmit data in clear text.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026
These pre-selected fighter pilots and their families moved into their apartments during the summer of 1960 after residing at the Frunze Central Airfield in Moscow.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 May 2026

Definition of selected

Adjective

Zuckerberg warned of risks if control of advanced AI is concentrated with a select few companies, institutions or governments.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Pay attention, then, to the rate climate not only on the months in which the Fed holds its meeting but each day as multiple factors here can impact the merits of select interest-earning vehicles.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of select

Adjective

Miller also asked Marco Rubio who his favorite rapper is, and the secretary of state gave the honors to Tupac.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
Aside from the team information, shown below is each game’s rating, the probability of the favorite winning, the median score for each team and the median margin of victory for the favorite.

— Loren Maxwell, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of favorite

Adjective

Wisconsin is famous for its Friday fish fry, and regulars are fiercely loyal to their preferred local restaurants.

— CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
Of those families, the district accommodated 69% of the requests, while about 118 families were not transferred to their preferred school, Spielberg said.

— Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of preferred

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“Handpicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handpicked. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of handpicked

adjective

verb

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