SELECTIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SELECTIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “selective”? Find 8 synonyms and 30 related words for “selective” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Selective” are: discriminating, discriminatory, discerning, critical, exacting, demanding, particular, hard to please

Selective as an Adjective

Definitions of "Selective" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “selective” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Operating at or responding to a particular frequency.
• Tending to select; characterized by careful choice.
• Tending to select; characterized by careful choice- John Mason Brown.
• (of a person) tending to choose carefully.
• Characterized by very careful or fastidious selection.
• (of a process or agent) affecting some things and not others.
• Relating to or involving the selection of the most suitable or best qualified.

Synonyms of "Selective" as an adjective (8 Words)

critical	Relating to or denoting a point of transition from one state to another. A critical edition of a Bach sonata.
demanding	Requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill. He was a demanding baby and rarely slept through the night.
discerning	Quick to understand- Nathaniel Hawthorne. Discerning taste.
discriminating	Showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste. He became a discriminating collector and patron of the arts.
discriminatory	Capable of making fine distinctions. A discriminatory tax.
exacting	Requiring precise accuracy. Certain highly specialized xerophytes are extremely exacting in their requirements.
hard to please	Transmitted directly from a pointed light source.
particular	First and most important. Has a particular preference for Chinese art.

Usage Examples of "Selective" as an adjective

• Modern pesticides are more selective in effect.
• The school was very selective in its admissions.
• He is very selective in his reading.
• The cow is the result of generations of selective breeding.
• A new marine VHF radio with digital selective calling.
• An exceptionally quick and selective reader.

Associations of "Selective" (30 Words)

accept	Make use of or accept for some purpose. I ll accept the charges.
access	Reach or gain access to. Information can be accessed from several files and displayed at the same time.
adjudicate	Make a formal judgement on a disputed matter. The Committee adjudicates on all betting disputes.
admission	The fee charged for admission. The country s admission to the UN.
alternative	(of one or more things) available as another possibility or choice. Alternative possibilities were neutrality or war.
arbitrary	(of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority. Of arbitrary size and shape.
choice	One of a number of things from which only one can be chosen. This disk drive is the perfect choice for your computer.
choose	Pick out select or choose from a number of alternatives. I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant.
chosen	Having been selected as the best or most appropriate. She was Mama s chosen.
decide	Cause to decide. We finally decided after lengthy deliberations.
decision	The ability or tendency to make decisions quickly decisiveness. The information was used as the basis for decision.
elect	Elected but not yet installed in office. The elect group of saints which was predestined for heaven.
entree	An entrance, especially a theatrical entrance onto a stage or as if onto a stage. She made a graceful entree into the ballroom.
exclusive	Catering for or available to only a few, select customers; high class and expensive. The problem isn t exclusive to Dublin.
individually	One by one; singly; separately. Taken individually the rooms were in fact square.
opt	Select as an alternative over another. She opted for the job on the East coast.
option	Buy or sell an option on. Choose the cheapest options for supplying energy.
optional	Available to be chosen but not obligatory. A wide range of optional excursions is offered.
pick	Hit lightly with a picking motion. He was picked for the England squad.
predetermine	Cause to be biased. Closed questions almost predetermine the response given.
preferential	Of or involving preference or partiality; constituting a favour or privilege. A preferential shop gives priority or advantage to union members in hiring or promoting.
sampling	A sample. Five random samplings collected from wild cats.
scarify	Cut and remove debris from (a lawn) with a scarifier. Scarify seeds.
select	Pick out select or choose from a number of alternatives. She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her.
selected	Chosen in preference to another.
selection	A plot of land acquired by selection. The store carried a large selection of shoes.
selectively	In a way that involves the selection of only particular people or things. He accused state officials of selectively enforcing the law.
singly	One by one; one at a time. He talked to the players singly and in groups.
specially	For a special purpose. An especially or specially cautious approach to the danger.
unilateral	Involving only one part or side. Unilateral cerebral lesions.