as in interest
a group that benefits from a particular social, economic, or political privilege
changes to the tax laws being challenged by vested interests
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Recent Examples of vested interest
That smoothed the path to passing major spending deals and keeping the government running in large part because those lawmakers had a vested interest in securing wins for their constituents.
—
Carl Hulse, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2022
These oligarchs have a vested interest in maintaining this alliance.
—James North, The New Republic, 16 Dec. 2022
Much like her brother, Claire has expressed a vested interest in making sure Patagonia aligns with her morals.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2022
The main way to counter the malign power of vested interest is to meet organized money with organized people.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for vested interest
Carl Hulse, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2022
These oligarchs have a vested interest in maintaining this alliance.
—James North, The New Republic, 16 Dec. 2022
Much like her brother, Claire has expressed a vested interest in making sure Patagonia aligns with her morals.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2022
The main way to counter the malign power of vested interest is to meet organized money with organized people.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for vested interest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vested interest
Noun
-
While the project is framed as a civilian innovation, the timing and capabilities have sparked wider interest in what such systems could become.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
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Delta previously discontinued the JFK–Orange County route due to airport capacity constraints, but its return signals renewed interest in premium domestic travel.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Enacting government reforms like congressional term limits, banning stock trading and overturning citizens united would make congress members more accountable to the people and less likely to play partisan games to appease special interest groups.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Trump’s frustration with Canada has set the tone, and self-serving special interests have magnified his clarion call.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The City Council had the chance to alleviate some of the tax’s worst impacts, but instead followed the demands of the special-interest groups that always lobby for higher taxes.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
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Among those who lost money were a company run by former Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer, Alabama state Auditor Andrew Sorrell, and a political action committee controlled by the Republican Sorrell.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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In 2025, Running with Andy Thomson received more than $120,000 from a political action committee called Citizens for Law Order and Ethics, which has received $1 million from the Seminole Tribe of Florida since 2024.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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At the same time, pressure groups worked hard to get younger, more YIMBY legislators elected.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vested interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vested%20interest. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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