I have a bone to pick with you.
Source: tatoeba (1625)
Pick
/pɪk/
Synonyms for "pick" (426 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (86)
abuseaccelerateaccostaccumulateacquireadzaggravatealternativityamassannoyapprehendarrestassembleaxbadgerbaitbe atbeakbecome acquainted withbedevil
Show 51 more words
besetbestbotherbread knifebring inbring togetherbristlebrowbeatbrown offbrushbugbullybullyragbuntburn upbushwhackerbustbutcher knifebuycall forcarp atcarving knifecastcatchchampchampionchaserchiselchivychoicechoosechoose outchoosingchosenchuckclean upcleaverclipperclippersco-optationco-optioncollarcollectcome bycome down withcontractcreamcream of the cropcriticizecropcrop herbs
Strong matches (127)
cullcutdabdaggerdecide betweendecisiondelegatedesignatedevildigdig updiscerndiscomposediscriminatedistemperdistinguishdisturbdogdrawedge tool
Show 84 more words
electelectioneliteexasperateexceptionallyexcerptexclusiveexerciseextractfashfatfavoritefillingfillipfindfirst choiceflickflipflirtflowerfomentfree choicefree willfret atfuss atgaingarnergathergather ingemgetget betterget hold ofget inget togethergleango to getgougegrabblegrazegripegrubgrub uphackhandpickharassharryharvesthasslehatchethayhecklehectorhefthenpeckhoehoisthoundhunting knifeimproveinciteincreaseinitiateintimidateirkirritatejackknifejestkillknifelancelancetlearnletter-openerlift upmachetemake a comebackmake a selectionmake headwaymake outmake progressmarkmastermattock
Verb(7 words)
Noun(16 words)
drafting practicedrawelectelectingfillingfreedom to choosefruit foragingguitar pickharassharvestsicepickimplementinstrumentinterceptioninterceptormake a choice
Related words (213)
meetmiffmolestmownabnagnag atneatenneedlenettlenibblenibble atnicknigglenippersnonesuchnonpareilnoshnudzhnut
Show 150 more words
obtainopt foroptimumoptionpaper cutterpaper knifeparagonparing knifepatpeckpeck atpeevepenknifeperk uppersecutepesterpick and choosepick atpick offpick onpick outpick uppickaxpickedpiece de resistancepinchpiquepitchplagueplectronplectrumplowsharepluckpluck the beardplunkpotherpreferpreferencepreoptionprideprimeprimroseprizeprovokepull inpurchasequeenquintessenceraise uprake uprallyraprazorrazor bladereapreap and carryrecognizerecouprecoverriderileroilround uprufflerun insalt of the earthsaw knifesaxscalpelscare upscissorsscoopscrape togetherscrape upscraperscreen outscuffle hoescytheselectselectedselectionseparatesettlesettle onsettle uponshareshearssheath knifeshootshoot downsicklesidecutterssiftsift outsinglesingle outsnacksnapsnipssortsort outspearspeed upspokeshavestartstir upstraighten outstraighten upstrumsuperlativesurgical knifesweep the stringsswordtable knifetaketake intake into custodytake uptaptauntteasetell apartthe bestthe best everthe pickthe topsthe very bestthrumtickletidy uptiptoptopstormenttouchtry the patiencetwangtweak the nosevexvolitionwarpwedgeweftwhiskwillwinnowwoofwork upworryyap at
Verb(12 words)
Noun(29 words)
Adjective(2 words)
singleunsupervised sample
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: plectrum, a single, abuse, accelerate, accost.
- Sentence evidence is available for pick, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "pick".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "pick"
Keep "pick" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "pick" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "pick", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "pick" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
51 entriesShowing 16 of 51 words.
More specific
12 entriesbook choicecelluloid pickflower pickingfruit pickingice pickmetal pickmockingname callingnylon pickrock pickteam choicetopic choice
Collocations
12 entriesflower pickingfruit pickingguitar pickice pickmetal pickpick listpick ticketpicking orderrock pickteam pickingtoothpickwooden pick
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
6 entriesTranslations
1 translations across 1 languages.
Spanish
1 entries- puya noun (general purpose hooked tool part of a set)
Sample sentences
39 total sentences available.
Pick up your things and go away.
Source: tatoeba (2305)
Please pick me up at the airport at five.
Source: tatoeba (18215)
It'd be great if you could pick up some bread before you come home.
Source: tatoeba (20449)
Showing 4 of 39 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "pick"?
Closest matches include plectrum, a single, abuse, accelerate, accost.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "pick"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.