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

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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 With a few other liberal Democrats, nicknamed the Grizzlies, Sher would pick through turgid language of legislation looking for provisions that reflected the undue influence of special interests. Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Building affordable housing at scale means politicians need to break up with wealthy special interests like the construction accident lawyers who plaster the city and MTA buses with billboards and ads. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Norman has decried the role of super PAC spending against him in the runoff campaign, accusing Graham of being funded by special interests who are pushing their own agenda through her candidacy. ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 In typical Baltimore County Council fashion, most of those exemptions resulted from individual council members doing the bidding of special interests without regard to the public interest. David Plymyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2026 Kelly has spent his career as a lobbyist representing special interests. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 But Hogg pointed instead to special interests and corporations that have long held sway over both dominant American political parties. Michel Martin, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026 Porter characterized herself as a minivan driving single mom who would work to take on special interests and refuse to take corporate cash. Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026 Both measures are sensible safeguards against greedy lawmakers and powerful special interests like SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, the union pushing the billionaire tax. Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 13 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
  • For major exchanges, balancing the interests and convenience of investors across different regions has become a critical priority.
    , CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • And there, that approach can mean making decisions that conflict with the interests of the people who have money riding on the company.
    Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Their work reveals the devastating effects of PFAS from carpet treatments, as well as the frustrating game of accountability hot potato between companies, state regulators, federal agencies and other interest groups.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • However, unlike prediction market firms and advocacy groups, those interest groups aren’t focused on a single issue.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Public pressure groups, and politicians such as Herman Mashaba, are calling on the government to do much, much more.
    Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
  • Increasingly, book bans are driven less by individuals than by politically motivated pressure groups targeting decision-makers.
    SPIN Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Special interests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interests. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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