1
as in especially
in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail
the supplementary material was specially intended to address earlier accusations of cultural bias
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extremely
to a great degree
a specially gifted pianist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 specially
Besides the inevitable Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and George Gershwin, there’s the world premiere of five works by American composers specially commissioned for this occasion by Orchestra Lumos.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Feb. 2026
Dentist-level clean at your fingertips, this toothbrush is specially designed for effective and powerful cleaning and gum health.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Fellow, Smith’s semen analysis company, developed technology that preserves sperm for up to 72 hours, allowing patients to collect samples at home and send them in a package specially developed to maintain their quality.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
Look for soft cloths specially designed to clean stainless steel and wipe with the grain rather than against it.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specially
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Feb. 2026
Dentist-level clean at your fingertips, this toothbrush is specially designed for effective and powerful cleaning and gum health.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Fellow, Smith’s semen analysis company, developed technology that preserves sperm for up to 72 hours, allowing patients to collect samples at home and send them in a package specially developed to maintain their quality.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
Look for soft cloths specially designed to clean stainless steel and wipe with the grain rather than against it.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specially
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specially
Adverb
-
That’s not an easy balance to navigate, especially in a market like New York, especially off a season as disappointing as 2025, especially when the manager next to you is in the final year of his contract.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Luna then squares restrictive Saturn, potentially challenging our patience — especially if expectations are clashing with reality.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Now the molecule was DMT, which causes an extremely intense but relatively short trip.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The researchers also say the laser could benefit industries that depend on nanoelectronics, including semiconductor manufacturing, by helping engineers detect extremely small defects in chips.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The evacuees skewed younger, particularly adults between 26 and 34, stripping the state’s future workforce and tax base.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Their presence reflects the ongoing exchange between the Chinese and Korean fashion industries, particularly among younger consumers who closely follow both markets.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
What is more concerning is that the KC-135 is now very old (first built in the late 1950s) and is in dire need of retirement or upgrade.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Leaderboards were filled with circles and squares with very few pars in between.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The public announcement did not provide details on what officials would be specifically looking for in the reviews or what types of content would be deemed disqualifying.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Smith looks back fondly at his years at Imagineering, specifically calling out his time on the Guardians project.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
One of the key benefits of Foffy's daily pet multivitamin soft chews is the highly palatable soft chew format.—
Jessica Moore,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
-
These pies are highly seasonal, driven by ingredients fresh from the farmers markets.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Her left hand, notably, was kept tucked inside her pocket.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Irish trainers, most notably the great Willie Mullins, have trained the most festival winners in 14 of the last 15 years.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Menus were incredibly thoughtful, comfortably dancing the line between familiar, Western fare and regional dishes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specially.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specially. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
