Synonym Chooser

How does the noun selection contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of selection are alternative, choice, election, option, and preference. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

When is it sensible to use alternative instead of selection?

While the synonyms alternative and selection are close in meaning, alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

When is choice a more appropriate choice than selection?

The synonyms choice and selection are sometimes interchangeable, but choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

When would election be a good substitute for selection?

The words election and selection can be used in similar contexts, but election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

In what contexts can option take the place of selection?

The words option and selection are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When can preference be used instead of selection?

In some situations, the words preference and selection are roughly equivalent. However, preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

Examples 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 selection Disney+ has a seemingly endless selection of Marvel movies and plenty of Star Wars and Pixar fare too. Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024 Check out Total Wine's popular selection of sweet holiday prices below! Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024 How those losses impact their bids for a College Football Playoff spot will be known on Tuesday night when the selection committee releases its second rankings. Eric Olson, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024 On top, a selection of physical controls runs from one side to the other. PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for selection 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selection
Noun
  • Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their choices, and cotton offers a sustainability story.
    Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Terrain also influences building practices and materials choices across regions.
    Cassi Hallam, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • People from around the world place bets on when this will occur, and the jackpot often surpasses $300,000.
    Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 7 Nov. 2024
  • All of this excitement may tempt you to place some bets on what will happen — but is that actually a good idea?
    Becca Stanek, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • An even safer option is to paint or draw on pumpkins instead of carving them.
    Sarah Darby, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • There are certainly alternatives to chlorine and chloramines, which come with their own benefits and detriments: many European countries disinfect their water with ozone, and McCurry says that another option is the use of UV light.
    Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • What are your feelings on the way sampling is happening in hip-hop and pop right now?
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Key Facts Four-ounce packages of Super brand cinnamon powder sold mostly in California retail stores and a few others across the U.S. were recalled this week after routine sampling found the product contained elevated levels of lead.
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • But after the election, Bessent reportedly backed away from that plan.
    Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Scharf is an attorney and former assistant U.S. attorney at the Justice Department who previously ran for Missouri’s attorney general, but ultimately lost in the primary election.
    Alison Durkee, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • In general, the larger the sample size in such studies, the greater the chances are that the outcome will be statistically significant.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
  • So, for example, there’s a move to generate artificial data using artificial intelligence to increase our sample size.
    Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near selection

Cite this Entry

“Selection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selection. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on selection

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!