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
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
Very few lobbyists or special interests in Tallahassee gave Gregory a dime.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Candidates who lost have pointed their fingers at special interests, blaming them for derailing their campaigns.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Lobbyists and special interests are constantly scheming to defeat the will of the majority.
—Mary Nichols, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
His more sizable donations have come from county Republican parties, sitting Republican lawmakers and political action committees for law enforcement groups, industry groups and other special interests.
—Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Instead, San Diego has elected leaders who spend every waking moment catering to special interests to pay for their next election.
—Hal Valderhaug, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Super PACs and other outside groups aligned with special interests pumped more than $50 million into congressional and state races during this primary.
—Alisa Kaplan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 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
Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Very few lobbyists or special interests in Tallahassee gave Gregory a dime.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Candidates who lost have pointed their fingers at special interests, blaming them for derailing their campaigns.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Lobbyists and special interests are constantly scheming to defeat the will of the majority.
—Mary Nichols, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
His more sizable donations have come from county Republican parties, sitting Republican lawmakers and political action committees for law enforcement groups, industry groups and other special interests.
—Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Instead, San Diego has elected leaders who spend every waking moment catering to special interests to pay for their next election.
—Hal Valderhaug, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Super PACs and other outside groups aligned with special interests pumped more than $50 million into congressional and state races during this primary.
—Alisa Kaplan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
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Prior to her father's death in 1952, Princess Elizabeth lived a relatively quiet life, spending her teen years under the tutelage of her parents and fostering some of the interests that would become lifelong passions.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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Ahead of the meeting, Warsh disclosed financial interests exceeding $100 million.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Newsom could close the chronic deficits by raising taxes, and that’s the preferred remedy for many legislators and interest groups, particularly unions.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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The Democratic front-runner was raking in endorsements from interest groups and democratic politicians.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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 25 Apr. 2026.
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