as in interests
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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Recent Examples of special interests
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
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
The third mayoral candidate, Mike Liebelson, is largely self-funded, and attacks both rivals for accepting money from developers and other special interests.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
While innovators think of new ways to improve lives with AI, politicians are looking for ways to entrench special interests at everyone else’s expense.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Challenger Nicholas Cade, an attorney and former public school teacher, accuses her of being beholden to special interests.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
Family and close friends – This is a true one-man grassroots campaign with no PACs, lobbyists, or special interests.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The spending bonanza is a good window into how pricey campaigns, unlimited PAC donations and special interests can come to dominate races behind the scenes.
—Bayliss Wagner, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
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
The third mayoral candidate, Mike Liebelson, is largely self-funded, and attacks both rivals for accepting money from developers and other special interests.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
While innovators think of new ways to improve lives with AI, politicians are looking for ways to entrench special interests at everyone else’s expense.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Challenger Nicholas Cade, an attorney and former public school teacher, accuses her of being beholden to special interests.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
Family and close friends – This is a true one-man grassroots campaign with no PACs, lobbyists, or special interests.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The spending bonanza is a good window into how pricey campaigns, unlimited PAC donations and special interests can come to dominate races behind the scenes.
—Bayliss Wagner, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
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The opponents alleged the money stemmed from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which advocates for Israel’s interests and supports both Democrats and Republicans.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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Allowing Somali nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to our national interests.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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A number of other interest groups, such as Turning Point USA and Club For Growth, have also pledged to support primary challengers seeking to oust anti-redistricting incumbents.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
5 Mar. 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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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Special interests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interests. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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