1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary
a candidate who handled the stunning defeat with especial grace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in familiar
closely acquainted
he told his especial friends about the job offer but kept everyone else in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort
with a very ordinary lawn, we don't have any especial need for a gardener
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of especial
Not every governor hands out rosary beads, especial rosary beads blessed by the late Pope Francis.
—
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
To one pursuing the even tenor of his usual routine, the chewing of coca gives no especial sensation, in fact the only result seems to be a negative one, an absence of the customary desire for food and sleep.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Further, studies have shown that people with more abdominal fat have smaller brain volumes especial in areas related to memory and decision making.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The plan is to install some 17 miles of wildlife fencing to connect habitats and lower vehicle crashes, especial with deer and elk (which can weigh over 1,000 pounds and cause a lot of damage to passenger vehicles).
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for especial
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
To one pursuing the even tenor of his usual routine, the chewing of coca gives no especial sensation, in fact the only result seems to be a negative one, an absence of the customary desire for food and sleep.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Further, studies have shown that people with more abdominal fat have smaller brain volumes especial in areas related to memory and decision making.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The plan is to install some 17 miles of wildlife fencing to connect habitats and lower vehicle crashes, especial with deer and elk (which can weigh over 1,000 pounds and cause a lot of damage to passenger vehicles).
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for especial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for especial
Adjective
-
Cheng traces how, with the help of Kim’s son Jong Il and a distant uncle who was once a pastor, Kim borrowed the tactics of religion to solidify extraordinary psychological control over an entire population.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The second-degree murder charge, officially classified as a class 2 felony with an extraordinary risk of harm, carries an average prison sentence of 17 years, according to nonpartisan legislative analysts.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Many of the precautions a traveler could take are similar to those that became familiar at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Details about the underlying allegation remain murky, but the department sources familiar with the matter said the LAPD’s secretive Special Operations Division tailed officers who were under investigation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
There is no vaccine or specific antiviral medicine for hantavirus.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
The label belongs to a specific time and place, one tied to an age when a popular newspaper column could spawn a multimedia franchise.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
But, in other respects, your approach to the future might have been unusual, at least by our modern lights.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
They have also been shown to exhibit play behavior with objects in their enclosures, highly unusual behavior for a reptile.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
On March 7, the brand hosted an intimate event in Los Angeles that brought together creators, industry insiders and advocates to explore how technology, personal care and community intersect.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
This leads us on an intimate, and at times funny, journey of self-discovery and missteps told in five chapters over the course of a critical year in Robin’s life.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The next domino might be Alabama, where Governor Kay Ivey has called a special legislative session to redraw the state's maps less than three weeks before its primaries.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
-
Beyond Alabama and Tennessee, legislators in Mississippi are planning to hold a special session to redraw the state's Supreme Court districts.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Yet, Bruccoleri is absolutely exceptional in her role as a young woman determined to find her voice in a world that would so easily push her aside due to her appearance and eclectic curiosities.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
Noël Coward’s writing for drunk is exceptional.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Qatar could deepen its already close defense ties to Turkey, and China, which is close to Iran, could play a greater diplomatic role.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Especial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/especial. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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