What is the opposite of “cull”?

What is the antonym of “cull”?

The antonyms of cull are keep, preserve, and protect. The antonyms keep, preserve, and protect convey the idea of maintaining or safeguarding something from harm or destruction.

Brief Definitions of the Antonym(s)

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

keep

To retain or maintain possession of something.

Example

I want to keep this book for future reference.

preserve

To protect something from harm, decay, or spoilage.

Example

We need to preserve the environment for future generations.

protect

To keep someone or something safe from harm or danger.

Example

It is our duty to protect endangered species from extinction.

How are these antonyms different from each other?

• 1. Keep implies retaining possession of something.
• 2. Preserve implies protecting something from decay or spoilage.
• 3. Protect implies keeping someone or something safe from harm or danger.

Good things to know

• 1. Environmental Conservation: Use preserve to describe efforts to protect natural resources.
• 2. Ownership: Use keep to describe retaining possession of something.
• 3. Safety and Security: Use protect to describe measures taken to ensure safety and security.

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Remember this!

The antonyms have distinct nuances: Keep implies retaining possession, preserve implies protecting from decay or spoilage, and protect implies keeping safe from harm or danger. Use these words to describe environmental conservation, ownership, safety, and security.