individual 1 of 2

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as in separate
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
Each year, Daniel and HFR present distinguished awards to individuals who are leading innovators in their respective fields. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025 Benefits for individuals and communities This program helps older Americans balance their checkbooks, enjoy better health and engage more regularly with their own communities. Cal J. Halvorsen, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The exhibition recalls the struggles and triumphs of this history through documentation, individual reflection, and artworks, including by important figures in this contemporary process like Henry and Loewenstein. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Price increases could be especially stark in individual coverage marketplaces, where insurers also are predicting the federal government will end some support that helps people buy coverage. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for individual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for individual
Noun
  • Authorities are combing through video from the scene, including this video which appears to show a person on the roof immediately following the shooting, according to sources familiar with the ongoing investigation.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Republican strategist Michael Biundo was among many to observe how confident Kirk was from the jump, how undaunted by being new to the scene and often the youngest person in the mix.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Two million dollars of the funds used to protect Okefenokee came from the Holdfast Collective, a group of nonprofit entities that since 2022 has donated the profits generated by Patagonia to nonprofit groups fighting climate change.
    David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Overnight, customers discovered that their formerly frisky bots had turned frigid, some morphing into befuddled entities who seemed to be suffering from brain injuries.
    Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But what other, more-restrictive standard could Treasury use that doesn’t risk running afoul of the statutory guidance based on a bureaucrat’s subjective judgment?
    Ben Ritz, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • But a subjective review of IL assignments over the past five years suggests this wave of early-September injuries is more notable than in recent seasons.
    Chad Jennings, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In the end, Sutton-Schulman won the Triangle Springs appeal, but Highmark classified L’s treatment at Menninger as two separate admissions.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Luna's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets was established in February 2025 and is a separate House Oversight subcommittee from the one that last held a hearing on UFOs in November.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • After the very recent birth of their child, Un has taken a break from the all-consuming demands of restaurateuring to attend to the entirely distinct all-consuming demands of early parenthood.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
  • After monitoring them for two years, the researchers directly observed the birth of two different species of males with distinct genomes from a single queen.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Authorities arrested a man shortly after a bullet hit Kirk, Mason said during the news conference.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • No man is worth missing Paris for.
    Vogue, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Each of the four objects — the moon, Jupiter, Castor and Pollux — will appear to be about four degrees apart.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Even if there is no criminal investigation, the NFL has the authority — in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement — to independently investigate allegations in a civil matter and discipline Hill under the league’s personal conduct policy.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • So yeah, that case was personal.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Individual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/individual. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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