What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
plucked
Example
She plucked a flower from the garden. [plucked: verb]
Example
The chef plucked the feathers from the chicken before cooking it. [plucked: past tense]
Example
He was plucked from obscurity and given a starring role in the movie. [plucked: past participle]
cull
Example
The farmer culled the herd by removing the older cows. [cull: verb]
Example
The editor had to cull the articles to fit them into the magazine. [cull: past tense]
Example
They decided to cull the collection of old books to make room for new ones. [cull: infinitive]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Plucked is more commonly used in everyday language, while cull is more technical and often used in specialized fields such as agriculture or business.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between plucked and cull?
Cull is generally considered more formal than plucked, due to its technical and specialized nature.
