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 That means candidates would be less beholden to special interests since no money is needed for a primary campaign. Paul Haughey, Mercury News, 27 June 2026 An agreement can spare those special interests multi-million dollar fights to win over voters. Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 Joseph also criticized the inability of lawmakers to work across the aisle to pass legislation that would help residents rather than focusing on the priorities of special interests. Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 That’s why a cottage industry of consultants conducts polling and message testing to help local governments and special interests find just the right combination of words and numbers to sell voters on the need to approve them. Susan Shelley, Daily News, 10 June 2026 Steyer stepped up his fight in the remaining days, seeking to squeeze into one of the top two spots by battering Becerra in ads and at campaign rallies as a politician propped up by corporate special interests. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 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 Additionally, the Supreme Court has been overtaken by special interests and no longer stands as a reasonable check to the power of the Executive branch. Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
  • That political independence has enabled the Fed to make decisions that might be unpopular in the short term, but that have the best interests of the US economy in mind for the long term.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Republican legislators, taking their lead from a president who sees half the nation as his personal enemy, have put their own party’s interests over the republic’s.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Once a destination for avid hikers and the Biltmore-browsers, the destination has evolved to attract a variety of age groups and interest groups.
    Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
  • If that isn’t enough, some of the most powerful and well-financed interest groups in politics have spent big in certain primaries.
    Josh Feldman, NBC news, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Increasingly, book bans are driven less by individuals than by politically motivated pressure groups targeting decision-makers.
    SPIN Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Special interests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interests. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster