SPECIFIC Synonyms: 193 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'specific' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of specific are especial , individual , particular , and special . While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species. // children with specific nutritional needs

Q: Where would 'especial' be a reasonable alternative to 'specific'?

The words especial and specific can be used in similar contexts, but especial may add implications of preeminence or preference. // a matter of especial importance

Q: When can 'individual' be used instead of 'specific'?

While the synonyms individual and specific are close in meaning, individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group. // valued each individual opinion

Q: When could 'particular' be used to replace 'specific'?

The synonyms particular and specific are sometimes interchangeable, but particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual. // a ballet step of particular difficulty

Q: When is it sensible to use 'special' instead of 'specific'?

In some situations, the words special and specific are roughly equivalent. However, special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own. // special ingredients

specific 1 of 2

adjective

spi-ˈsi-fik

Definition of specific

as in special

of a particular or exact sort we need a specific type of pen to sign the diplomas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in explicit

so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning specific instructions regarding the interrogation of prisoners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

specific

2 of 2

noun

as in fact

a single piece of information although the speech was long on rhetoric and platitudinous generalities, it lacked specifics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in characteristic

something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind the two submissions differ only in certain specifics

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in drug

a substance or preparation used to treat disease quinine is a specific for malaria

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective specific differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of specific are especial, individual, particular, and special. While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

Where would especial be a reasonable alternative to specific?

The words especial and specific can be used in similar contexts, but especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

When can individual be used instead of specific?

While the synonyms individual and specific are close in meaning, individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

When could particular be used to replace specific?

The synonyms particular and specific are sometimes interchangeable, but particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

When is it sensible to use special instead of specific?

In some situations, the words special and specific are roughly equivalent. However, special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

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 specific

Adjective

To add a challenging aspect to the game, the metal claw must be adjusted to a specific angle in order to hold onto the prize. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 He is accused of personally recommending torture methods, receiving updates on specific victims’ treatment, and threatening to kill one prisoner’s child as a form of psychological torture. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

The Bureau of Prisons did not respond with specifics to Deadline’s request Monday for information on his medical and incarcerated status. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 Guilfoyle's attorney disputed the messages' authenticity to the Wall Street Journal, but did not provide specifics. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specific

Recent Examples of Synonyms for specific

Adjective

The café uses a special roast from an NKC small-batch roaster called Northlandia, according to Stevie Rose, marketing specialist at Life Unlimited.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
The production won the Tony Award for special theatrical event.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of special

Adjective

To be more explicit, the owners, as represented by the league, will not retract their salary cap proposal simply because we are now guaranteed a low-payroll team will win the World Series.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
What if Moscow used nuclear threats, implicit or explicit, to try to force Europe to end its support for Ukraine?

— Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of explicit

Noun

But a Columbia University research team has found that when water molecules come into contact with plastic surfaces, a key chemical reaction does in fact take place.

— Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
That tradition began this season, and while Cignetti bemoaned the fact Indiana missed out on so many opportunities, the Hoosiers can take a message from the Spaniard's dominant six-season run.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of fact

Noun

Those characteristics can be particularly relevant to fashion distribution, where seasonal peaks, promotional periods and e-commerce demand can put intense pressure on fulfillment operations.

— Josh McMorrow, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Balls put in play with those characteristics are hits 84% of the time, per the league's Statcast page.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Noun

In cell cultures, the researchers found that gamma delta T cells could kill the cancer cells when redirected by the drug.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Almost all Florida seniors will be affected as Medicare Advantage plans pare benefits and raise deductibles, while traditional Medicare sees higher Part D out-of-pocket spending caps and the elimination of $0-premium standalone drug plans.

— Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of drug

Adjective

However, the available demonstration does not specify the training setup, how responsibilities the divided between the learning methods, or the precise control architecture used during execution.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Traditional CPUs excel at sequential computing tasks, such as calculating a massive spreadsheet or running a precise physics simulation, as these often require executing steps in strict order at blazing speeds.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of precise

Noun

Understanding exactly how fusion works, in the grittiest detail, is therefore of extreme interest to nuclear-weapons scientists.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The distance can be reported as Ukraine’s claim without adding equipment details that remain uncertain.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of detail

Browse Nearby Words

species

specific

specifically

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Specific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specific. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of specific

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes