as in interests
a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote
observed that if publishers gave in to every pressure group, nothing would ever get published
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pressure groups
Cosseted by favorable districts and incumbent fundraising advantages, the majority caters mostly to pressure groups — especially socially conservative ones — that influence Republican primaries.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Johnson is calling for coordinated national efforts led by mayors and state governments, in concert with public pressure groups and local residents, to combat the actions by ICE, the Border Patrol and other federal authorities.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
At the same time, pressure groups worked hard to get younger, more YIMBY legislators elected.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Nearly 72% of censorship attempts in 2024 were initiated by pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Johnson is calling for coordinated national efforts led by mayors and state governments, in concert with public pressure groups and local residents, to combat the actions by ICE, the Border Patrol and other federal authorities.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
At the same time, pressure groups worked hard to get younger, more YIMBY legislators elected.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Nearly 72% of censorship attempts in 2024 were initiated by pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressure groups
Noun
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Howard sought to realign the interests of humanity with those of nature in agricultural practices as a way to protect our food systems from wasteful industrial consumption.—
Annie Levin,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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Redman, who along with a handful of other representatives disclosed business interests in short-term rentals, cosponsored the bill alongside House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Those who might be displaced or de-skilled by the advancing tech wave will fight in the office with passive aggression, in the media with poisonous leaks delivered at just the worst time, and in legislatures through the voting power of the bureaucrats, teachers’ unions, and other interest groups.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
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As costs rise, candidates devote more time to courting wealthy backers, interest groups and political action committees.—
Philip Jankowski,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The spending bonanza is a good window into how pricey campaigns, unlimited PAC donations and special interests can come to dominate races behind the scenes.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Houston Chronicle,
12 Feb. 2026
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Cater to special interests Conservatives used to profess that closer-to-home local government was best, but it has been abandoned across the nation.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressure groups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressure%20groups. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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