as in interest
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
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Recent Examples of special interest
Lessons from down-ballot races A trio of Assembly races in Orange County were hot contests this year, with multiple candidates vying for open seats and special interest groups spending oodles of money.
—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
But Denney has used it to portray him as too close to the many special interests who work politicians for favorable policies in Sacramento, according to reporting in The Press Democrat.
—Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Anyone who raises practical concerns or asks difficult questions is portrayed as serving some special interest.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
Isabelle Foland In a speech before the Iowa Republican governor primary was officially called, farmer and businessman Zach Lahn emphasized his campaign points of reducing cancer rates, supporting farmers, and not being controlled by special interest groups.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for special interest
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
But Denney has used it to portray him as too close to the many special interests who work politicians for favorable policies in Sacramento, according to reporting in The Press Democrat.
—Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Anyone who raises practical concerns or asks difficult questions is portrayed as serving some special interest.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
Isabelle Foland In a speech before the Iowa Republican governor primary was officially called, farmer and businessman Zach Lahn emphasized his campaign points of reducing cancer rates, supporting farmers, and not being controlled by special interest groups.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for special interest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special interest
Noun
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The Oilers have shown interest in hiring Babcock, but league sources told The Athletic the NHL is investigating Babcock’s short stint with Columbus in 2023.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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But as interest in the area grew, the pair began to see a business opportunity.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Why this matters At a time when the role of money in politics remains deeply contested, such patterns remind Americans that campaign finance is not just a story about donors and interest groups.—
Mayank Kejriwal,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
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On the campaign trail, Danielson and Gonzalez have touted their backgrounds in advocating for voters’ rights as both worked for political interest groups before running for office.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special%20interest. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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