1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary
a candidate who handled the stunning defeat with especial grace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in familiar
closely acquainted
he told his especial friends about the job offer but kept everyone else in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort
with a very ordinary lawn, we don't have any especial need for a gardener
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of especial
Both took especial glee in going after Ramaswamy, a Trump for the millennial set so automatic in his Trumpier-than-thou responses to any question that Christie lampooned him as a sort of ChatGPT version of a Republican candidate.
—
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2023
The city has an especial affinity for literature.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 2 Mar. 2022
Delivery is important in any form of storytelling, and in observational comedy cadence is the especial engine of wit.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023
This project had drawn his attention to Pine Island Bay as a coastal area where the outer edge of glaciers might calve or break apart into icebergs with especial rapidity.
—Marissa Grunes, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for especial
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2023
The city has an especial affinity for literature.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 2 Mar. 2022
Delivery is important in any form of storytelling, and in observational comedy cadence is the especial engine of wit.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023
This project had drawn his attention to Pine Island Bay as a coastal area where the outer edge of glaciers might calve or break apart into icebergs with especial rapidity.
—Marissa Grunes, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for especial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for especial
Adjective
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Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series Cristin Milioti in The Penguin Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series Deirdre O’Connell in The Penguin Cristin is just so extraordinary, and she’s always been extraordinary.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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The process of making this film has been so extraordinary to me and totally reframed the narrative for me.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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This incremental model allows firms to evolve while maintaining familiar strategies.—
Seth Price,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
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No new president, whether a Democrat, a more traditional Republican, or a Trump disciple, will have the option of returning to the familiar approaches of the post–Cold War era.—
REBECCA LISSNER,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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By pinpointing specific areas where AI can make a quick impact, like root cause analysis, predictive maintenance or knowledge management, the value can be immediate while keeping the enterprise rollout manageable.—
Andreas Eschbach,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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At the briefing on Thursday, Caine went further, describing that six bunker-buster bombs were dropped down each of the two ventilation shafts with fuses programmed to detonate at specific times.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Now, another unusual way to grab hiring managers attention is going viral: Sneaking your resume into a box of donuts.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
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Is there a relationship between writing and fiction and unusual height?—
Jane Smiley
June 20,
Literary Hub,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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And for the people who spend 80-hour weeks sweating all the intimate details of service, the job means so much more than work, the team so much more than colleagues.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2025
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The writers seemingly wanted to make a more intimate, heist-style crime drama without figuring out why or how Riri would fit into it.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Each man was then sent special moose-hunting regulations, zone maps, instructions on field-dressing, numbered back tags, bottles for moose-blood samples, and several other items.—
Jack O'Connor,
Outdoor Life,
26 June 2025
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How nice to learn about artisan producers from South America, especially when the wine is this special; to my tastes, this is world-class quality.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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On the pitching side, Tampa Bay’s greatest advantage has been exceptional durability.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Danny Boyle is a director known for his exceptional use of music to score key — and now iconic — scenes in his films.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Some of the women became her close friends, and one became a longtime girlfriend.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
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Or, that their connection through her stepdad was not close enough to matter.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Especial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/especial. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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