1
as in unique
being the one or ones of a class with no other members
the President claimed that international terrorism was a special threat that required a special way of dealing with it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loved
granted special treatment or attention
one student who was treated as special by the teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort
you'll need special permission from the fire department to do that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of special
One in 5 children in the United States has special health care needs, and about half of those kids have coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, according to Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy Center for Children and Families.
—
Kayla Jimenez, USA Today, 19 July 2025
House Democrats in 2019 sought grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation while Congress was conducting its impeachment inquiry into Trump.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 19 July 2025
The original class of 30 physically disabled students — mostly with cerebral palsy — arrived on the campus, then on 33rd Street next to Anne Darling Elementary School, in a special bus and the school’s station wagon.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 19 July 2025
Food trucks also are permitted at special events, like those held at downtown Festival Park, Mylott said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for special
Kayla Jimenez, USA Today, 19 July 2025
House Democrats in 2019 sought grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation while Congress was conducting its impeachment inquiry into Trump.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 19 July 2025
The original class of 30 physically disabled students — mostly with cerebral palsy — arrived on the campus, then on 33rd Street next to Anne Darling Elementary School, in a special bus and the school’s station wagon.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 19 July 2025
Food trucks also are permitted at special events, like those held at downtown Festival Park, Mylott said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for special
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special
Adjective
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As always, however, IT leaders will need to balance their deployment plans with cost-management efforts that address the unique capabilities of agentic AI.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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The video, taken by his granddaughter, showcased his unique way of honoring his late wife's passion—turtles.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
For the modern update, Nintendo has tweaked the design slightly, incorporating controls specific to the Switch 2–namely the Home, screen capture, and C buttons—at the top of the pad, and added a tiny new ZL button on the left-hand shoulder.—
Matt Kamen,
Wired News,
20 July 2025
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But Zeldin faces a major hurdle in accomplishing this feat: The existing PFAS standards are backed by the best currently available scientific evidence linking these specific chemicals to a range of adverse health effects.—
David Michaels,
The Atlantic,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
One singular melon starts at $138, two melons go for $268 and three melons cost $384 (taxes and shipping not included).—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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In comparison to the S25’s 6.9 inch singular screen, the Fold 7’s phablet offering seems downright gargantuan.—
Mitch Wallace,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Serena and Lily is an AD go-to for lighting—their silhouettes are individualistic, and cute without being precious.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
11 July 2025
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Sprinkled it like fairy dust right along his deck and around his precious fire pit area.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Meeting space, which is also popular for weddings, is another distinctive amenity.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
19 July 2025
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The country has a low cost of living, a low crime rate and distinctive cuisine.—
William P. Barrett,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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Among the missing are five campers and a counselor from the beloved Christian girls camp, Camp Mystic, which counted at least 27 children and staff among the death toll.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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The travel centers, which are often as big as football fields, are beloved for their pristine bathrooms, competitive fuel prices and the permanently grinning beaver mascot with the thousand-yard stare.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
3 Aug. 2019
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Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.—
Johannes Himmelreich,
BostonGlobe.com,
30 Mar. 2018
Adjective
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Consider Stapleton International Airport’s reincarnation as Denver’s Central Park neighborhood, or suburban Chicago’s Glenview Naval Air Station’s rebirth as The Glen, a live-dine-play-shop community featuring 2,000 homes in eight distinct enclaves.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Today, over 3 in 5 cannabis consumers are aware of terpenes: organic compounds present in plants, fungi and cannabis, and are responsible for distinct scents, flavors and therapeutic effects.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Special.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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