special interests

noun

plural of special interest
as in interests
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 special interests Both questions surrounding special interests underscored the extent to which the pair has been entrenched in politics for decades, even as Jackson presents himself as the outsider taking on the ultimate insider. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026 Other opponents argue that special interests such as the oil and gas industry should not be protected by the state constitution. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2026 My Ecuador and Peru travelers often have special interests including wildlife, culture, food, and hiking. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026 The organizations often stem from business groups, billionaires and other special interests who want to keep their identity hidden. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026 With a few other liberal Democrats, nicknamed the Grizzlies, Sher would pick through turgid language of legislation looking for provisions that reflected the undue influence of special interests. — Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Building affordable housing at scale means politicians need to break up with wealthy special interests like the construction accident lawyers who plaster the city and MTA buses with billboards and ads. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Norman has decried the role of super PAC spending against him in the runoff campaign, accusing Graham of being funded by special interests who are pushing their own agenda through her candidacy. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 In typical Baltimore County Council fashion, most of those exemptions resulted from individual council members doing the bidding of special interests without regard to the public interest. — David Plymyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
  1. interests
  2. interest groups
  3. pressure groups
Noun
  • The company is planning one of the biggest IPOs in history as a public benefit corporation, a legal structure that requires management to balance broader public interests with profitability goals.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Leikauf’s announcement came amid a monthslong dispute with his predecessor, former Sheriff John D’Agostini, who accused him of putting his own interests ahead of the community.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of interests
Noun
  • But interest groups nonetheless are focusing on court races in several states with a goal of positioning themselves for bigger races in 2028.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Unfortunately, the same forces that defeated previous permitting reform packages — primarily left-wing interest groups — are threatening to smother this legislation.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of interest groups
Noun
  • Public pressure groups, and politicians such as Herman Mashaba, are calling on the government to do much, much more.
    — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
  • Increasingly, book bans are driven less by individuals than by politically motivated pressure groups targeting decision-makers.
    — SPIN Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026
Definition of pressure groups

Browse Nearby Words

special interest
special interests
specialism
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Cite this Entry

“Special interests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interests. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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