1
as in particularly
in the specific case of one person or thing as distinguished from others
all employees, but especially the administrative assistants, will need to learn to use the new phone system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extremely
to a great degree
that university is especially strong in the sciences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in notably
in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail
he especially minded the proposed changes to the work schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of especially
As Yoon notes, there’s little reason to overhaul your airport routine to spend more time in a lounge, especially when overcrowding and waitlists can eat into that time anyway.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
The Big Bang Theory spinoff finds Stuart (Kevin Sussman) breaking the space-time continuum and trying to put it back together — not especially successfully.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Eating a large amount of fiber at once can cause gas and bloating, especially if your current diet is low in fiber.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
Scholarships give young designers — especially women — the space to focus on craft and develop a real point of view.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for especially
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
The Big Bang Theory spinoff finds Stuart (Kevin Sussman) breaking the space-time continuum and trying to put it back together — not especially successfully.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Eating a large amount of fiber at once can cause gas and bloating, especially if your current diet is low in fiber.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
Scholarships give young designers — especially women — the space to focus on craft and develop a real point of view.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for especially
Recent Examples of Synonyms for especially
Adverb
-
That’s important, because landing fees and terminal charges are a high cost for airlines, particularly at big, busy airports.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Wagler is particularly intriguing as a big guard who could potentially fit next to Garland in the short term as a backup and in the long term as a shooting guard.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adverb
-
But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) suggests that when light at extremely high intensities interacts with the vacuum, it can be converted into matter.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
In the previous hearings, Hegseth notably said the ceasefire paused a 60-day deadline for congressional approval of the war, which is required under the 1973 War Powers Act.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
Hill extensively customized the spread during his tenure, most notably painting the boxy structure’s formerly all-white exterior a deep shade of charcoal gray.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
The right-back was likely to feature in coach Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, which is being named on May 22, but the door has now creaked open for one of his rivals for that position — and specifically Trent Alexander-Arnold.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
There are potting mixes made specifically for certain succulents (such as cacti), and these are also recommended.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
But Justin is very different from book to screen.—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
In isolation, Liverpool’s summer 2025 business was very good, but there are so many mitigating factors to consider.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Adverb
-
Mauricio Dubón delivered the big blow on another Maton curveball that caught too much plate for a two-run homer.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
These programs are technically separate from the refugee program, but they, too, have been disrupted.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
Second, the only games the Spurs have lost in this series are when either Wemby has played terribly or gotten thrown out of the game.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
But even doing very little can still go terribly wrong.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
Football clubs are filled with talented professionals who work incredibly hard.—
Shivaas Gulati,
Sportico.com,
12 May 2026
-
While that sort of payday would be life-changing for the overwhelming majority of humans walking the planet, Reitan is the exception, thanks to his historic and incredibly lucrative family business.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Especially.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/especially. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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