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 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 California was once hailed as a model for curbing the power of special interests and electing moderates. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 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 Kelly has spent his career as a lobbyist representing special interests. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 But Hogg pointed instead to special interests and corporations that have long held sway over both dominant American political parties. — Michel Martin, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026 Porter characterized herself as a minivan driving single mom who would work to take on special interests and refuse to take corporate cash. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026 Both measures are sensible safeguards against greedy lawmakers and powerful special interests like SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, the union pushing the billionaire tax. — Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 13 July 2026 That means candidates would be less beholden to special interests since no money is needed for a primary campaign. — Paul Haughey, Mercury News, 27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interests
  1. interests
  2. interest groups
  3. pressure groups
Noun
  • After years of work to finally make this street safer, Sacramento is threatening that progress because powerful interests objected.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Axl has appeared in mom’s projects Like Duhamel, Fergie allows her son to pursue his passions and interests without pushing him toward a specific career path.
    — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of interests
Noun
  • However, unlike prediction market firms and advocacy groups, those interest groups aren’t focused on a single issue.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Industries, disciplines, niche interest groups and organisations, to name a few, all develop their own epistemic cultures.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 21 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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