as in interest
a group that benefits from a particular social, economic, or political privilege
changes to the tax laws being challenged by vested interests
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Recent Examples of vested interest
That smoothed the path to passing major spending deals and keeping the government running in large part because those lawmakers had a vested interest in securing wins for their constituents.
—
Carl Hulse, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2022
These oligarchs have a vested interest in maintaining this alliance.
—James North, The New Republic, 16 Dec. 2022
Much like her brother, Claire has expressed a vested interest in making sure Patagonia aligns with her morals.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2022
The main way to counter the malign power of vested interest is to meet organized money with organized people.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for vested interest
Carl Hulse, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2022
These oligarchs have a vested interest in maintaining this alliance.
—James North, The New Republic, 16 Dec. 2022
Much like her brother, Claire has expressed a vested interest in making sure Patagonia aligns with her morals.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2022
The main way to counter the malign power of vested interest is to meet organized money with organized people.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for vested interest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vested interest
Noun
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Proposals to cap credit card interest rates are just such an example.—
Matthew Kandrach,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Federal Reserve has lowered its benchmark interest rate by nearly two percentage points since late 2024.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Psychologists with special interest in reading have been probing this question for over a decade.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The health care system is run by competing special interests, including powerful insurance companies and hedge funds.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Those who might be displaced or de-skilled by the advancing tech wave will fight in the office with passive aggression, in the media with poisonous leaks delivered at just the worst time, and in legislatures through the voting power of the bureaucrats, teachers’ unions, and other interest groups.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
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As costs rise, candidates devote more time to courting wealthy backers, interest groups and political action committees.—
Philip Jankowski,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The political action committee has donated $150,000 to Wambsganss in the runoff, according to Texas Ethics Commission records.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
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The political action committee sued the city in December after the clerk disqualified the petition for lack of valid signatures.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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At the same time, pressure groups worked hard to get younger, more YIMBY legislators elected.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
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During Beijing's crackdown, the Democratic Party has turned into more like a pressure group.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vested interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vested%20interest. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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