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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
-
Xi said China and Russia need to use closer and stronger strategic collaboration to defend the legitimate interests of both nations and safeguard the unity of Global South countries, the state broadcaster CCTV reported.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
He is also accused of using FLOCK license plate readers to track his mistress and her romantic interests.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Donations from individuals and some interest groups brought his account up to $335,000.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, an Oakland Democrat who chairs the Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation, spent much of the Legislature’s fall recess last year touring modular projects, in other states and other nations, and talking to various interest groups, including unions.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 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
-
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 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
