as in particular
tending to select carefully we were highly selective about the music we listened to while trying out loudspeakers

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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 selective The latest iPhone 16 has not met sales expectations, signaling a more selective consumer. Tony Zhang, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025 In a series of hearings before the ECMC over the past few years, attorneys for KPK have accused the state of selective enforcement of its rules. Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2025 Some of these features have been co-opted or repurposed for a different function due to evolutionary changes in environment, behavior, or selective pressures. Julia Craven, Popular Science, 13 Feb. 2025 Turing’s lecture notes are in effect a textbook, terse and selective, on advanced math for circuit engineers, although now very out-of-date, of course. IEEE Spectrum, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for selective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selective
Adjective
  • Per the complaint, Wiles emailed the AP on Feb. 18, saying that their attention was focused on the AP in particular.
    Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
  • City leaders under fire Bass is facing criticism over two issues in particular: a funding cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department in the fire-prone region and the timing of a diplomatic trip to Ghana as dangerous fire conditions loomed.
    Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • As the consumer gets increasingly choosy , Ma said Costco is also a preferable play because of its focus on value.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
  • Despite some recent sales shortfalls, Signet has been effectively navigating a highly price-promotional retail landscape where consumers have become increasingly choosy.
    David Moin, WWD, 1 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Its growth comes at a challenging time for startups, as investors have generally been cautious and picky about where to put their money.
    Katie Peralta Soloff, Axios, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Add a gallon of water for pets with picky stomachs.
    Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Hard partying leads to an acceleration of addiction: Rita, in her thirties, after giving birth to four children; Tyson, in his late twenties, after crashing out of college and working practically every job in the nicer parts of the East Bay.
    Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Devonte Ross, who surpassed 1,000 yards at Troy in 2024, and Kyron Hudson, who had some nice moments at USC but was never one of the top receivers on the team in four seasons.
    Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selective. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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