1
as in particularly
in the specific case of one person or thing as distinguished from others
all employees, but especially the administrative assistants, will need to learn to use the new phone system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extremely
to a great degree
that university is especially strong in the sciences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in notably
in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail
he especially minded the proposed changes to the work schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of especially
Korean men, especially firstborn sons like Lee, face pressure to be successful in their careers and provide for their families.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 June 2025
Federal and state law enforcement agencies and the Department of Homeland Security have repeatedly issued bulletins, warning the country is vulnerable to terrorism, especially at large events, as a result of the Gaza war.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 8 June 2025
Over time, and most especially in environments that reward control and dominance, these defenses may solidify.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
In the center of Beirut, and especially in neighborhoods that hope to attract tourists, political posters are coming down, and police and army patrols are on the rise.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for especially
Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 June 2025
Federal and state law enforcement agencies and the Department of Homeland Security have repeatedly issued bulletins, warning the country is vulnerable to terrorism, especially at large events, as a result of the Gaza war.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 8 June 2025
Over time, and most especially in environments that reward control and dominance, these defenses may solidify.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
In the center of Beirut, and especially in neighborhoods that hope to attract tourists, political posters are coming down, and police and army patrols are on the rise.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for especially
Recent Examples of Synonyms for especially
Adverb
-
With over 300 individual components that all have to work together, the design and construction of the James Webb Space Telescope gave experts a particularly difficult set of engineering problems, from trying to fit the telescope into a rocket to cleaning its mirrors without damaging them.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
15 June 2025
-
Television viewers around the world were awed by real-time coverage of that war and of the technology, particularly the stealth bomber and smart bombs the U.S.-led coalition used to smash Iraq’s enormous army in mere weeks.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adverb
-
No vaccine is perfect, the experts said, but the risk with the Covid vaccine is extremely small and the problems like a sore arm or a low-grade fever that some of his patients have experienced resolved quickly.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
7 June 2025
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Stef Stef is extremely mature and grounded in her investigation of the Goon Docks.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Adverb
-
Yet recent actions by both Elon Musk and prominent academic institutions—most notably Harvard, but also Columbia, MIT, and others—suggest that even the most successful individuals and organizations are capable of ignoring foundational wisdom.—
Joel Shulman,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Over the years, she's also made appearances in several TV shows, most notably ER, Mad About You and In the Heat of the Night.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Adverb
-
Another companion article that focused specifically on female celebrities delved into further structural changes that have likely impacted profits.—
VIBE,
VIBE.com,
4 June 2025
-
Curry's Underrated Golf business is specifically designed to give Black and brown children a chance to participate in a sport that hasn't historically catered to them.—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
4 June 2025
Adverb
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Remember to look high and low, scrutinizing not just eye-level shelves but also the very top ledges and the floor beneath hanging clothes.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
7 June 2025
-
The restaurant itself is long gone and most of the area looks very different, having been rebuilt after the bombing during the Second World War, but there’s an obelisk marking the spot just a few yards from Odeonsplatz square, upon which the club’s founding document is mounted.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Adverb
-
But there are many times when Ait-Nouri resorts to his tricks too readily, with his over-elaboration putting his team in trouble.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
But as Blumhouse has scaled up and the demand for horror has increased, Blumhouse can’t make movies as modestly, and the industry too runs into challenges to continue to make horror movies work financially.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
5 June 2025
Adverb
-
So, this is a terrible – terribly misguided policy.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
1 June 2025
-
Walker is not terribly splitty, and the Cardinals committed to giving him consistent playing time.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adverb
-
After four successful seasons of Godfather of Harlem — a true cultural phenomenon — moving into producing and creating new shows with him felt incredibly natural and organic.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2025
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One dog’s late-night cravings led him on a five-mile (incredibly relatable) journey.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Especially.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/especially. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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