individual 1 of 2

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as in different
not the same or shared guest rooms at the inn have individual bathrooms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective individual differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of individual are especial, particular, special, and specific. While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

Where would especial be a reasonable alternative to individual?

The words especial and individual can be used in similar contexts, but especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

When would particular be a good substitute for individual?

The words particular and individual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

When is special a more appropriate choice than individual?

The synonyms special and individual are sometimes interchangeable, but special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

When could specific be used to replace individual?

While in some cases nearly identical to individual, specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

Example 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 individual
Noun
Names are what transform the anonymous people in old photographs into particular individuals with complicated stories of their own. Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025 Often, the impact of a group of like-minded people is more profound, more lasting, and more important than that of an individual. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
With people afraid to look at their retirement accounts and others fretting about a possible recession and layoffs — fear around our individual and collective financial future can feel overwhelming. Katia Riddle, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025 For this season, chunk plays will once again primarily come from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheming and Deebo Samuel’s cameo appearances, rather than relying on individual athletic strengths. Ben Standig, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for individual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for individual
Noun
  • The former vice president, who lost to Trump in the November election, will give her most extensive public remarks since leaving office during the keynote at the San Francisco gala, according to a person familiar with the program.
    CNN.com, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Ever since Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense, critics have called the former Fox News weekend host the most underqualified person to ever hold the position.
    John Ficarra, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The combined entity will become the eighth-largest bank covered by government deposit insurance, the Fed said.
    Chris Prentice and Saeed Azhar, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • This year, the two entities solicited corporations to donate $75,000 to $200,000 in sponsorships with the promise of on-campus branding and logo displays typically banned due to concerns of private gain spurred by taxpayer dollars.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This is especially true for those of you willing to get more vulnerable in the love and personal relationships department.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
  • With persistence and technical grit, Kairys began producing illustrations that were not only accurate and expressive but deeply personal.
    Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Pope Francis preached the same gospel in different language.
    John Hope Bryant, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Subtitles are easy to add to film, but, for the most part, they were used only when actors and audiences spoke different languages.
    David Owen, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Epic Universe, the $7 billion attraction from Comcast Corp.’s Universal Destinations & Experiences division, offers five distinct lands and opens to the public on May 22.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Harvard University’s endowment, worth $53.2 billion at the end of its 2024 fiscal year, for example, consists of roughly 14,600 distinct funds.
    Todd L. Ely, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Their names appeared on a list of more than 200 Venezuelan men held in the notorious prison, which is how their family found them.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram 817-390-7760 Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics.
    Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The ring both reveals the existence of the background object and magnifies it.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Whatever the vocabulary, this new breed of firm used subjective concepts to drive their business processes.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • At its roots, the Ballon d’Or is a subjective award.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Individual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/individual. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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