1
as in unique
being the one or ones of a class with no other members
the President claimed that international terrorism was a special threat that required a special way of dealing with it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loved
granted special treatment or attention
one student who was treated as special by the teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort
you'll need special permission from the fire department to do that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of special
A whole lot of people in Hollywood are furious with the city’s Historic Preservation Board, which voted three weeks ago to grant a special zoning exception for a mikvah, a religious bathhouse for Jewish women, in a historic single-family residential neighborhood.
—
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
In February 2025, Johnson and Kirschenmann were granted a one-year special-use permit by the Forest Service.
—Brent Rose, Outside, 28 Feb. 2026
Parlow made special mention of the academic achievements of graduating students who become teachers, pharmacists and physician’s assistants, reflecting the school’s contributions to health care and education.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
In the United States, the average squash player makes over $300,000/year, so this gives them access to that really special network.
—Cassidy Wood, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for special
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
In February 2025, Johnson and Kirschenmann were granted a one-year special-use permit by the Forest Service.
—Brent Rose, Outside, 28 Feb. 2026
Parlow made special mention of the academic achievements of graduating students who become teachers, pharmacists and physician’s assistants, reflecting the school’s contributions to health care and education.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
In the United States, the average squash player makes over $300,000/year, so this gives them access to that really special network.
—Cassidy Wood, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for special
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special
Adjective
-
These collaborations are intended to drive breakthroughs from concept to real-world deployment, leveraging ORNL’s unique assets such as its microgrid testbeds, digital twin environments, and extensive energy science capabilities.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Gabe was a unique combination of musical brilliance, kindness and sharp wit.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Beadles’ family spoke at Clark’s sentencing hearing about the pain of not knowing what happened to their loved one, according to the DA’s office.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
27 Feb. 2026
-
And above all, friends and loved ones are an essential component.—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Most cities will not release personal information about residents to outside agencies unless necessary to investigate specific crimes.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The layout reflects the building’s historic structure, and the team is available to assist with any specific needs before arrival.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The result is contrasting, suited for a composition that evades singular meaning.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2026
-
By inviting the chefs to play around, Wareheim ensured each collaboration was singular, specific, and truly one-night only.—
Alyse Whitney,
Saveur,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead, keep your precious metal portion of your portfolio capped at 10% to more effectively allow your other investments to perform as intended.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Because in hindsight, there was a lot of luck that played into the public’s preparations for this storm, with forecasters in the uncomfortable position of rapidly ratcheting up their warnings with precious little preparation time to spare.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Often dwarfed by architecture, their distinctive bodies in space are more important than the sparse dialogue that only serves to fill in crucial gaps in storytelling.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Kayne, known for his sharp wit and poignant observations, brings his distinctive brand of humor to the SXSW stage with an engaging 40-minute session offering an intimate look into the world of stand-up comedy, combining live performance with candid conversation.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Timed to major releases like Project Hail Mary and featuring beloved classics like Star Wars and Batman, these kits range from display-worthy collectibles to interactive builds that come to life with the new Lego Smart Brick System.—
Brittany Anas,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
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Many have traded in lounge pants for long skirts, and they’re primed to become some of the most beloved looks in your cold-weather wardrobe.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
3 Aug. 2019
-
Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.—
Johannes Himmelreich,
BostonGlobe.com,
30 Mar. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Special.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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