as in squeezing
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plucking
Regime change, as it has been practiced and discussed in international politics, refers to something far more ambitious and far more consequential than plucking out a single leader.
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Andrew Latham, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
Regime change, as it has been practiced and discussed in international politics, refers to something far more ambitious and far more consequential than plucking out a single leader.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
When not plucking away at a keyboard, Madison teaches yoga and mountain bikes with her two Australian shepherds, Cholla and Poppy, through Missoula's Rattlesnake Wilderness.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 25 Dec. 2025
Recipes from Valencia took me back to an afternoon lounging in the lawns near The City of Arts and Sciences, staring at orange trees, plucking pieces of rabbit from paella with my fingers, and swirling toast into olive oil.
—Jamila Robinson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025
In his new memoir The Uncool, which hits bookshelves today, the rock journalist and director behind films such as Almost Famous and Elizabethtown recalls his experience calling up Grant and Ball as a teenager after plucking their numbers from his friend and fellow journalist's address book.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Considering Harner’s artistic growth spurt — the journey from plucking away off camera in high school to international touring came under half a decade — there is a lot for her fans to be happy about as well.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Helicopters have been plucking people off rooftops for rescue from flooding and structural damage.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
With the Giants plucking concepts from Ole Miss’ offense, Dart’s comfort level was obvious.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plucking
Verb
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The Bagail 6-piece Compression Packing Cube Set is just $19 and a game-changer for squeezing extra outfits into a carry-on.—
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To check for ripeness, start by squeezing the fruit—ripe mangos should give slightly under pressure without feeling overly soft or mushy.—
Verb
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But a lackluster performance during that fall's vice presidential debate did little to help the party avoid stinging losses in November 2024.—
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The 31-year-old was among dozens who braved stinging brain freeze to win an exclusive Snow King foldable bag.—
Verb
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Students were hustling around campus, coming and going on the penultimate Saturday of the semester.—
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The bubbling party scene in New York City was indeed a movie, and Puffy was hustling his way into the leading role.—
Verb
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Contessa’s Corner Sports leagues, state gambling regulators and tribal leaders have all raised concerns that prediction market trades on sports don’t have the same level of guardrails as sportsbooks to protect against cheating by athletes, referees, coaches and other insiders.—
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The predictions were that unleashing AI to the world at large would lead to an exponential rise in cheating at school and that student essays would cease to be original.—
Verb
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Toronto switches, sticking Sandro Mamukelashvili on Sexton.—
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In the process, Tony becomes somewhat of an antihero by sticking it to corporate America.—
Verb
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With mixer on medium speed, gradually add heavy cream, 1/2 cup at a time, beating until combined after each addition, 1 to 2 minutes total.—
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On Saturday, that meant beating the Syracuse Orange 38-10 at Hard Rock Stadium.—
Verb
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Cattano suggests screwing mug hooks into the bottom of kitchen cabinets to utilize that space between the cupboards and the countertops.—
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That’s because the president doesn’t care about screwing people.—
Verb
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Upon doing some research for more formal choices to match the nickname, the mom came across Margaret, which had a connection to her husband's grandmother.—
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No New Yorker should have to fear losing access to health care -- and no nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits or less dignity for doing lifesaving work.—
Cite this Entry
“Plucking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plucking. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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