as in interests
a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote
observed that if publishers gave in to every pressure group, nothing would ever get published
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pressure groups
Johnson is calling for coordinated national efforts led by mayors and state governments, in concert with public pressure groups and local residents, to combat the actions by ICE, the Border Patrol and other federal authorities.
—
David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
At the same time, pressure groups worked hard to get younger, more YIMBY legislators elected.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Nearly 72% of censorship attempts in 2024 were initiated by pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
At the same time, pressure groups worked hard to get younger, more YIMBY legislators elected.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Nearly 72% of censorship attempts in 2024 were initiated by pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressure groups
Noun
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Under Canadian federal law, export permits can only be issued if a transfer is in the animals' best interests and would require medical assessments of every whale and dolphin.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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David McAllister, member of the European Parliament and chair of its foreign affairs committee, summed up the balancing act that the region needs to maintain between pursuing its own economic interests while maintaining good relations with Washington.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Those who might be displaced or de-skilled by the advancing tech wave will fight in the office with passive aggression, in the media with poisonous leaks delivered at just the worst time, and in legislatures through the voting power of the bureaucrats, teachers’ unions, and other interest groups.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
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As costs rise, candidates devote more time to courting wealthy backers, interest groups and political action committees.—
Philip Jankowski,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The health care system is run by competing special interests, including powerful insurance companies and hedge funds.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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There’s not even a big group of special interests that stand to benefit, like there usually is when a policy happens to get a lot of traction.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressure groups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressure%20groups. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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