special interest

Definition of special interestnext
as in interest
a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote promised that as governor he would never be beholden to special interests

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 special interest Anyone who raises practical concerns or asks difficult questions is portrayed as serving some special interest. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026 Isabelle Foland In a speech before the Iowa Republican governor primary was officially called, farmer and businessman Zach Lahn emphasized his campaign points of reducing cancer rates, supporting farmers, and not being controlled by special interest groups. Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 2 June 2026 Fourth, special interest groups have been found to instigate coordinated efforts to influence the prominence of stories on social news sites for political or financial reasons. Steve Paulussen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026 Long a refrain of strident progressives and good-government reformers, accusations that political rivals are self-dealing or bought by special interests have become a mainstay of Democratic primaries. Matt Brown, Fortune, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for special interest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interest
Noun
  • Nationwide poll on interest in the World Cup and opinions on related issues.
    Washington Post staff, Washington Post, 2 June 2026
  • The art world, with its credentialism, opaque jargon, and tendency to bow to powerful interests, bears a structural resemblance to both politics and academia.
    Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Steyer's platform is centered on taking a stand against special-interest groups in politics.
    Saige Miller, NPR, 2 June 2026
  • Trump has effectively cast journalists as a separate special-interest group—apart from ordinary American citizens.
    Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Special interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interest. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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