INDIVIDUAL Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

individual 1 of 2

noun

Definition of individual

as in person

a member of the human race every individual has value

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in entity

one that has a real and independent existence our general concept of what constitutes a chair is based on our experience with many individuals that were called chairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nonentity

individual

2 of 2

adjective

ˌin-də-ˈvi-jə-wəl

as in subjective

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person everyone has his or her own individual opinion about the subject, but you will have to work together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in separate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in characteristic

serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group he's got a highly individual laugh that I would know anywhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

The third one was an isolated partial tooth from another individual. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2026 The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a Friday statement that sanctions against some Eritrean individuals, including Hagos Ghebrehiwet, a key financial official, were removed. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Situated in the northwestern city of Tabriz, Bakhshi’s museum-archive speaks to the need for individual stories, often erased by authority, to paint the larger picture. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026 And if the trio’s individual track records are any indication, the potential is high. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for individual

Recent Examples of Synonyms for individual

Noun

Normally in a Housewives fight like this, the person getting caught would be defensive or fire back twice as hard, but Vicki simply doesn’t care.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
But, no offense, the most popular person in the stadium on Saturday afternoon will be the Sheriff himself, Peyton Manning, who will be in attendance to watch his nephew Arch Manning square off against his beloved Tennessee Vols.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of person

Noun

On Wednesday, local media reported that India's premier criminal investigation agency filed a case against Bhanu Tatak, the adviser to a group resisting the hydropower project, accusing her of illegally taking funds from foreign entities.

— Mamita Bhandari, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026
The liberal Yabloko party, the only registered political entity that dared to publicly criticize the war, was removed from the ballot last month by Russia’s Supreme Court, and only had a few dozen candidates in the single-seat races.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of entity

Adjective

The announcements came at Meta Connect 2026 as the company continues shifting its wearable strategy toward glasses and its personal AI agent, Muse.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
Complimentary fitness classes, one-on-one personal training, nutrition consults, Pilates, breathing classes, and flow yoga are among many other options.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of personal

Adjective

Continue making your routine purchases on a separate card, but don’t feel the need to spend just because your credit limit got larger.

— Ryley Amond, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
The club was 6-for-9 with RISP and scored at least two runs in four separate innings.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of separate

Adjective

Other analyses suggest about 40 percent of amateur athletes playing contact sports show brain changes that are characteristic of CTE, too.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026
Patina, a thin surface layer that develops due to age, wear, or chemical reaction, is another characteristic to look for when identifying artwork age.

— Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Noun

Thin partitions marked an early attempt to slice the space into smaller rooms, but the original brick walls remained bare, shivering with cobwebs, where someone had pasted a picture of a man, holy hands bracketing a redbrick heart.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
People arrested at these checkpoints have virtually no legal recourse and many young men have subsequently been forced into the military.

— Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of man

Noun

In Italy, history is visible and physical, woven into the landscape, the architecture, the objects of our daily life.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Moreover, its ultra-low infrared emissivity suppresses thermal radiation, hiding objects from heat-seeking cameras.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of object

Adjective

So while nicotine may create a temporary subjective sense of stress relief, current evidence does not support its use to reduce stress, improve mood or treat anxiety or depression.

— Hasmeena Kathuria, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
The site noted that subjective relaxation from passive heat exposure is well-documented, with parasympathetic tone rising as the body cools after a session.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of subjective

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inditing

individual

individualism

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“Individual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/individual. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of individual

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adjective

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