special interests

plural of special interest
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

Relevance

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 interests Thanks to money-hungry special interests and spendthrift leaders, Californians pay among the highest corporate, sales, gas and income taxes in the nation. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025 In those races, there are independent expenditures that include developers, unions and other special interests. Van Schoales, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025 Our health policies are guided by evidence, common sense, and respect for individual rights—not ideological agendas or special interests. Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025 Speaking broadly about Miami City Hall, Voccola said he can’t be bought by special interests. Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025 Passion-Driven Practice and Lifelong Learning One of the hallmarks of autism is the presence of ‘special interests,’ defined as intense, focused passions that can last a lifetime. Alison Escalante, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The ability for the ultra-wealthy and special interests to drown out the voice of everyday people is overwhelming. Adena Ishii, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025 That kind of partnership can happen again if citizens and politicians show how to put national welfare above president, party and special interests. Mike McGrew, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2025 Slaughter's special interests are clinical research trials in thoracic surgery and training future leaders in thoracic surgery, according to UofL's website. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
  • Kate Marshall of the Plaza District Council told the neighborhood committee that the ownership group has the Plaza’s better interests at heart and is invested in preserving the Plaza’s character while keeping developments within its iconic style.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Over a quarter-century, national interests shift and foreign alliances change.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Yet financial interventions from powerful interest groups short-circuit the most basic channels of representative government.
    John J. Donohue, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • All this at a time when minority writers are also disproportionately the targets of censorship by Republican state houses and right-wing interest groups.
    Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Special interests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interests. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!