Synonyms of particular

particular 1 of 2

adjective

pər-ˈti-kyə-lər 

1

as in nice

hard to please

she's very particular about the cleanliness of her car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nice
• careful
• finicky
• demanding
• exacting
• fastidious
• finical
• picky
• delicate
• selective
• pernickety
• choosy
• persnickety
• dainty
• fussy
• finicking
• critical
• meticulous
• old-maidish
• fussbudgety
• discerning
• discriminating
• knowledgeable
• insightful
• captious
• scrupulous
• hypercritical
• overcritical
• painstaking
• ultrafastidious
• punctilious
• touchy
• hyperfastidious
• overdemanding
• squeamish
• peevish
• faultfinding
• queasy
• petulant
• prissy
• carping
• prim
• caviling
• prickly
• niminy-piminy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undemanding
• low-pressure
• loose
• lackadaisical
• flexible
• relaxed
• carefree
• affable
• lax
• breezy
• unfastidious
• permissive
• lenient
• unfussy
• uncritical
• laid-back
• happy-go-lucky
• devil-may-care
• undiscriminating
• indiscriminating

2

as in personal

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person

that particular mug is Mike's

Synonyms & Similar Words

• personal
• subjective
• personalized
• private
• individual
• unique
• singular
• individualized
• separate
• patented
• peculiar
• distinctive
• idiomatic
• specific
• characteristic
• privy
• special
• identifying
• idiosyncratic
• intimate
• express
• specialized
• especial
• independent
• custom
• customized
• nonconformist
• self-sufficient
• self-directed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• general
• public
• popular
• universal
• generic
• broad
• widespread
• prevalent
• common
• typical
• normal
• shared
• regular
• prevailing

3

as in selective

tending to select carefully

he's particular about the corn he buys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• selective
• nice
• picky
• choosy
• finicky
• fastidious
• finical
• discerning
• discriminating
• finicking
• fussy
• judicious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonselective
• indiscriminate
• unselective
• indiscriminating

4

as in detailed

including many small descriptive features

a very particular account of the breakdown of their marriage from the husband's perspective

Synonyms & Similar Words

• detailed
• full
• thorough
• specific
• comprehensive
• elaborate
• particularized
• entire
• circumstantial
• descriptive
• minute
• accurate
• complete
• graphic
• blow-by-blow
• specified
• distinct
• precise
• vivid
• panoramic
• explicit
• listed
• exact
• enumerated
• correct
• itemized
• abundant
• copious
• inclusive
• exhaustive
• thoroughgoing
• encyclopedic
• omnibus
• numerated
• delineated
• exhausting
• picturesque
• in-depth
• inventoried
• replete
• inclusionary
• sharp
• mapped (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• summary
• short
• brief
• compendious
• compact
• concise
• succinct
• pithy
• general
• terse
• crisp
• cut
• curtailed
• ambiguous
• abbreviated
• vague
• trimmed
• indeterminate
• abridged
• overall
• nebulous
• broad
• shortened
• sketchy
• pruned
• nondescript
• unspecified
• nonspecific
• bird's-eye

particular

2 of 2

noun

1

as in item

a separate part in a list, account, or series

requested a bill of particulars for the care he received in the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

• item
• thing
• detail
• stuff
• point
• object
• article
• element
• characteristic
• component
• member
• factor
• feature
• section
• portion
• segment
• ingredient
• belonging
• piece
• constituent
• particle
• division
• partition

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compound
• aggregate
• whole
• total
• sum
• entirety
• composite
• conglomerate
• totality
• summation

2

as in fact

a single piece of information

everyone wanted to know all the particulars about the forthcoming merger

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fact
• detail
• specific
• article
• element
• item
• point
• particularity
• part
• datum
• factor
• aspect
• nicety
• component
• circumstance
• information
• ingredient
• member
• evidence
• constituent
• facet
• knowledge
• exhibit
• database

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• error
• myth
• misconception
• fallacy
• falsehood
• inaccuracy
• misstatement

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective particular differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of particular are especial, individual, special, and specific. While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

Where would especial be a reasonable alternative to particular?

While the synonyms especial and particular are close in meaning, especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

When is individual a more appropriate choice than particular?

The words individual and particular can be used in similar contexts, but individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

When is it sensible to use special instead of particular?

Although the words special and particular have much in common, special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

When would specific be a good substitute for particular?

In some situations, the words specific and particular are roughly equivalent. However, specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of particular

Adjective

That's partly due to the lag time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms, and the complexity of tracing this particular parasite. — Kate Wells, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026

About a year ago, Gracie began urinating on a particular rug. — Cathy M. Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Noun

Its simple formula sets the viewer up for at least one (usually more) scare every 10 minutes or so, slowly revealing the particulars of the plot without sacrificing the story’s anxious mystery. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

The league office, UCLA and USC have discussed staging a basketball event at SoFi Stadium, but the particulars are still uncertain. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Phrases Containing particular

• in particular