as in interest
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of special interest
Even some Republicans worried the measure would prompt special interest groups to simply lobby the General Assembly to get rid of legal challenges.
—
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 29 Dec. 2025
Steve Moore, cofounder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, predicts fierce battles in state capitols, where teachers unions and other special interests will try to stop the tax relief movement, scaremongering about damaging cuts to school budgets and potholes in the streets.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Defede also asks him about calling Byron Donalds, who's also running for governor, a slave to special interest groups.
—Jim Defede, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
While many of the past seasons have revolved around Emily's love life and career, season 5 also took a special interest in her best friend, Mindy, who also finds herself in Rome for work.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for special interest
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 29 Dec. 2025
Steve Moore, cofounder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, predicts fierce battles in state capitols, where teachers unions and other special interests will try to stop the tax relief movement, scaremongering about damaging cuts to school budgets and potholes in the streets.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Defede also asks him about calling Byron Donalds, who's also running for governor, a slave to special interest groups.
—Jim Defede, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
While many of the past seasons have revolved around Emily's love life and career, season 5 also took a special interest in her best friend, Mindy, who also finds herself in Rome for work.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for special interest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interest
Noun
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That critique of American foreign policy – that US high-mindedness and democratic idealism conceal naked corporate interests – persisted through the Cold War and into the 21st Century.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Health care, housing, and education would be built to be affordable, driven by real results from the bottom up--not by party interests trickling down.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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At the regulation’s first hearing in November, more than three dozen public interest groups opposed the rules, while the insurance industry supported the rules.—
Pat Maio,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Otherwise politicians and interest groups will continue to demand tax increases as tax dollars disappear into pockets that may include their own.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interest. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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