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
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Recent Examples of special interests
Speaking to reporters at the event, Steyer suggested his wealth insulated him from being beholden to special interests.
—
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
But three have drawn a lot of contention — and big checks from special interests.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 27 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
In that three-way race, a handful of special interests have now put more than $1 million into various efforts to elect businessman Tim Gaspar.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
The special interests of the wealthy and well connected have raided our tax dollars.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Our district needs someone who will represent the views and interests of the people of district 20, not of special interests from out-of-state.
—Rose Evans
may 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026
Streaming services usually offer add-ons (like a sports-specific package) for special interests, and Sling TV is no exception.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 28 Apr. 2026
The governor has rightly made reining in this out-of-control enterprise a top priority in the state budget talks, taking on one of Albany’s most entrenched special interests — the trial lawyers — with the goal of lowering insurance costs for New Yorkers.
—Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
But three have drawn a lot of contention — and big checks from special interests.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 27 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
In that three-way race, a handful of special interests have now put more than $1 million into various efforts to elect businessman Tim Gaspar.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
The special interests of the wealthy and well connected have raided our tax dollars.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Our district needs someone who will represent the views and interests of the people of district 20, not of special interests from out-of-state.
—Rose Evans
may 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026
Streaming services usually offer add-ons (like a sports-specific package) for special interests, and Sling TV is no exception.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 28 Apr. 2026
The governor has rightly made reining in this out-of-control enterprise a top priority in the state budget talks, taking on one of Albany’s most entrenched special interests — the trial lawyers — with the goal of lowering insurance costs for New Yorkers.
—Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
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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
-
In his stead, the United States propped up the venal and repressive shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who proved to be a pliable ally readily serving its oil and armament interests.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
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
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Politically, this strategy of watering down her own initiatives to avoid alienating interest groups might have worked, if not for the fires.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Special interests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interests. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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