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
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Recent Examples of special interests
Challenger Nicholas Cade, an attorney and former public school teacher, accuses her of being beholden to special interests.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
Shortsighted special interests aim to preserve some jobs at the expense of saving lives on the road.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Family and close friends – This is a true one-man grassroots campaign with no PACs, lobbyists, or special interests.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The spending bonanza is a good window into how pricey campaigns, unlimited PAC donations and special interests can come to dominate races behind the scenes.
—Bayliss Wagner, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
Cater to special interests Conservatives used to profess that closer-to-home local government was best, but it has been abandoned across the nation.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Two of the individuals running talk of the people yet have amassed over a million dollars through large donations and special interests.
—Mansoor Shams, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2026
Trump’s frustration with Canada has set the tone, and self-serving special interests have magnified his clarion call.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
Shortsighted special interests aim to preserve some jobs at the expense of saving lives on the road.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Family and close friends – This is a true one-man grassroots campaign with no PACs, lobbyists, or special interests.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The spending bonanza is a good window into how pricey campaigns, unlimited PAC donations and special interests can come to dominate races behind the scenes.
—Bayliss Wagner, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
Cater to special interests Conservatives used to profess that closer-to-home local government was best, but it has been abandoned across the nation.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Two of the individuals running talk of the people yet have amassed over a million dollars through large donations and special interests.
—Mansoor Shams, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2026
Trump’s frustration with Canada has set the tone, and self-serving special interests have magnified his clarion call.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
Noun
-
The Declaration mandates no particular American foreign policy, but the values the document embodies have always informed it, even as American statesmen have struggled to reconcile the country’s many mundane interests with the principles that gave it birth.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
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In his role as trade envoy, Andrew was tasked with promoting British business interests abroad, according to the BBC, and would have had privileged access to senior officials around the globe.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The moment bought Clinton a priceless image of willingness to speak truth to the party’s interest groups but came at the price of Jackson’s rage.—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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The City Council had the chance to alleviate some of the tax’s worst impacts, but instead followed the demands of the special-interest groups that always lobby for higher taxes.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Johnson is calling for coordinated national efforts led by mayors and state governments, in concert with public pressure groups and local residents, to combat the actions by ICE, the Border Patrol and other federal authorities.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special interests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interests. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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