1
as in unique
being the one or ones of a class with no other members
the President claimed that international terrorism was a special threat that required a special way of dealing with it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loved
granted special treatment or attention
one student who was treated as special by the teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort
you'll need special permission from the fire department to do that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
But what really makes these towns special are the people who love them and share them with us.
—
Becky Bartkowski, AZCentral.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The people working on this are really, really great and create a really special atmosphere, [like] Francesca [Gardiner] the showrunner, and Mark Mylod and various directors.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
For Tran, the Year of the Horse carries special meaning.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Soft cheeses made with such unpasteurized milk can run an infection risk from listeria bacteria, a special danger for pregnant women and newborns.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for special
Becky Bartkowski, AZCentral.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The people working on this are really, really great and create a really special atmosphere, [like] Francesca [Gardiner] the showrunner, and Mark Mylod and various directors.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
For Tran, the Year of the Horse carries special meaning.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Soft cheeses made with such unpasteurized milk can run an infection risk from listeria bacteria, a special danger for pregnant women and newborns.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for special
Recent Examples of Synonyms for special
Adjective
-
The spa The spa at Joia Aruba features a hydrotherapy area, a steam room, and seven treatment rooms designed to offer unique sensory experiences.—
José Cantillo Ferrer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The organization features a unique ownership mode that included a 2023 community investment campaign where local fans bought a stake in the clubs for anywhere from $100 to $25,000.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This Valentine’s Day, Ben Smith and Kelly Dennis will profess their love for each other — and New York City — in front of loved ones, strangers and possibly Batman.—
Andrea Sachs,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Gavern said the online ICE detainee locator, which family members use to find loved ones, often doesn’t update when transfers occur.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
By adjusting for variables such as smoking, physical activity and underlying health conditions, the researchers were able to isolate the specific relationship between caffeine intake and long-term brain health, SWNS noted.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
James Reilly, senior markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a note that while the broader stock market continues to climb higher, exposure to AI will be a specific boost or drag for certain companies.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Besson was not particularly interested in the story of Dracula, but instead reimagined the film specifically around Jones — a testament to the director’s belief in the actor’s singular talent.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Many people come to the story—the missing woman, the panicked family, the ordeal so singular but relatable—expressing compassion.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As gold and silver prices continue to seesaw, one corner of the hedge-fund industry is mining an opportunity from the huge swings in precious metals .—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Zoe was touched that Hannah entrusted her with such precious pieces—especially something as personal as her mom’s wedding dress.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Seekers of Infinite Love balances big laughs with big feelings, and the cast delivers in a way that makes the film both distinctive and relatable.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Cort later reemerged as a distinctive supporting presence in film and television.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Now, the source material behind that beloved series is making the leap to live theater.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But in order to make good on the movie-ness of it all, Johnson and McCarrol leaped and ran and dived into the sky, all for the sake of booking a concert at the beloved Toronto venue Rivoli.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
3 Aug. 2019
-
Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.—
Johannes Himmelreich,
BostonGlobe.com,
30 Mar. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Special.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/special. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
