as in disabled
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Recent Examples of special-needs
Board member Brooklyn Richardson asked her colleagues to especially consider special-needs students who walk to school.
—
Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
The only federal laws requiring transportation be provided are for certain special-needs students and children experiencing homelessness.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 26 Dec. 2025
He was separated from his parents and a judge placed him into special-needs foster care.
—Dan Slepian, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
Tickets are just $8, with $2 from every ticket benefiting the Miracle League of San Diego (MLSD), an inspiring organization that provides special-needs children and adults the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
The empathetic lead investigator on Milo’s case, Michael Peña’s Detective Alcaras, has a developmentally disabled, nonverbal 13-year-old son, Sam (Orlando Ivanovic), who would greatly benefit from attending a special-needs school his parents can’t afford.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The North Texas couple accused of burying their special-needs son in the backyard of their Burleson home told police the 26-year-old had died a few days before at a local hospital, officials said.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Primary beneficiary of proceeds for the rest of the festival is The Allen School, which supports special-needs children up to age 5 and prepares them and their parents for kindergarten.
—Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2025
But the cameo was an even bigger surprise for folks 300 miles away at Equestrian Connection, a special-needs therapy organization that had booked the War and Treaty for an Illinois benefit event that same night.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
The only federal laws requiring transportation be provided are for certain special-needs students and children experiencing homelessness.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 26 Dec. 2025
He was separated from his parents and a judge placed him into special-needs foster care.
—Dan Slepian, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
Tickets are just $8, with $2 from every ticket benefiting the Miracle League of San Diego (MLSD), an inspiring organization that provides special-needs children and adults the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
The empathetic lead investigator on Milo’s case, Michael Peña’s Detective Alcaras, has a developmentally disabled, nonverbal 13-year-old son, Sam (Orlando Ivanovic), who would greatly benefit from attending a special-needs school his parents can’t afford.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The North Texas couple accused of burying their special-needs son in the backyard of their Burleson home told police the 26-year-old had died a few days before at a local hospital, officials said.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Primary beneficiary of proceeds for the rest of the festival is The Allen School, which supports special-needs children up to age 5 and prepares them and their parents for kindergarten.
—Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2025
But the cameo was an even bigger surprise for folks 300 miles away at Equestrian Connection, a special-needs therapy organization that had booked the War and Treaty for an Illinois benefit event that same night.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special-needs
Adjective
-
New Orleans makes sense for disabled people, beyond just the infrastructure.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Last month, complaints pushed his office to audit two years' worth of applications for disabled parking permits.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, another change in Fed thinking nudged rates lower as concerns swirled about an ailing job market.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Now that the four astronauts are back on solid ground, medical professionals can better evaluate the condition of the ailing astronaut, NASA officials said.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some Native Americans, caregivers for an incapacitated person, and people regularly attending drug or alcohol treatment programs may also qualify for exemptions, along with other specific cases noted in the guidance.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
-
For instance, an estranged child may have more legal authority over an incapacitated parent than their long-term but unmarried partner.—
Kahli Zietlow,
The Conversation,
18 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Apparently, the Meyers in Long Beach were ruled unfit as guardians, or Lynn refused to go back to them, so juvenile authorities located some blood relatives, possibly her father or half sister, and put her on a train back East.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
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This is a couple unfit to govern a two-bedroom.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sharod Knox has lived this way since a 2002 shooting left him quadriplegic and dependent on a ventilator.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Here’s one his many Se7en knockoffs, this one based on a series of novels about a quadriplegic cop, played by Washington, who teams with a rookie cop (Angelina Jolie) to take down a serial killer.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There was no suggestion that the woman, who had been working at a tourist accommodation on the island for about six weeks, was unwell at the time of her death, Algie said.—
Jennifer Jett,
NBC news,
20 Jan. 2026
-
At the White House, the unwell billionaire rambles, spews insults at those who refuse to kowtow and dozes off in meetings.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Avatar sees Jake Sully, a paraplegic veteran, on a mission to the moon Pandora, in an entirely new form, adopting that of the Na'vi people.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
20 Dec. 2025
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The same survey found that one resident, who was paraplegic, was left alone all night while calling out for help.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The rest of us will sit here with Belichick, sick to our stomachs.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Now, the fear is getting sick or stuck far from home.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special-needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special-needs. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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