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
Cosseted by favorable districts and incumbent fundraising advantages, the majority caters mostly to pressure groups — especially socially conservative ones — that influence Republican primaries.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressure groups
Noun
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Business interests favor relocating City Hall, using that prime real estate to propel development downtown.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Its interventions, generally presented as seeking to protect Shiites’ interests, often drew criticism of undermining countries’ sovereignty and fostering instability.—
Elena Becatoros,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But its opponents fear the mayor's power over the board could allow interest groups to hijack public education in the city via money and political influence.—
Hayleigh Colombo,
IndyStar,
26 Feb. 2026
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Hollywood players, Wall Streeters, public interest groups guilds and lawmakers will know, definitively, where to direct their fire.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Candidates sniped at each other — though rarely by name — for being too rich, too beholden to special interests or for voting in the past in support of ICE and border wall funding.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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Donalds’s primary opponents have argued that the large amount of money special interests are spending to support his campaign could lead to his being subject to their influence, if he’s elected.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressure groups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressure%20groups. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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