1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary
a candidate who handled the stunning defeat with especial grace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in familiar
closely acquainted
he told his especial friends about the job offer but kept everyone else in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort
with a very ordinary lawn, we don't have any especial need for a gardener
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of especial
The city has an especial affinity for literature.
—
Leah Asmelash, CNN, 2 Mar. 2022
Delivery is important in any form of storytelling, and in observational comedy cadence is the especial engine of wit.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023
This project had drawn his attention to Pine Island Bay as a coastal area where the outer edge of glaciers might calve or break apart into icebergs with especial rapidity.
—Marissa Grunes, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
Years later, a place detective, who has suffered her own loss, travels to the village to reopen the case and develops an especial bond with the missing boy’s mother, who has never given up hope that Briel could still be alive.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 11 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for especial
Leah Asmelash, CNN, 2 Mar. 2022
Delivery is important in any form of storytelling, and in observational comedy cadence is the especial engine of wit.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023
This project had drawn his attention to Pine Island Bay as a coastal area where the outer edge of glaciers might calve or break apart into icebergs with especial rapidity.
—Marissa Grunes, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
Years later, a place detective, who has suffered her own loss, travels to the village to reopen the case and develops an especial bond with the missing boy’s mother, who has never given up hope that Briel could still be alive.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 11 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for especial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for especial
Adjective
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Australia is home to an extraordinary share of Earth’s biodiversity.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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One minor injury was reported in the extraordinary mishap.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This is perhaps a good quality, as that is a familiar feeling when attending a large event.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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The looks on display were all too familiar, making the joke even that much funnier for its sense of radical honesty.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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Passengers should consider paying extra for seat assignments on long flights, when traveling with companions, or if a specific seat type is essential for comfort.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Alternatively, if a seller has listed an item that matches consumers’ searches around specific holidays—Valentine’s Day, for instance—Enhance My Listing might temporarily change the product’s title to garner more search traffic.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Nearly a hundred shiny black calves are frolicking in the pastures, including twin bulls (birthweight of 72 pounds each) whose mother is completely unruffled by this unusual occurrence and its maternal responsibilities.—
Susan Koch,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2025
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That’s not unusual, for people to send spritzes, but then the manager came out with a gift bag.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Lower-income Californians also are more likely to live in tight quarters, making privacy for an intimate therapy session difficult.—
Phillip Reese,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
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In two weeks, guests will visit UNESCO sites like Luang Prabang, witness elephants in their natural habitats, attend an intimate Baci ceremony led by a Lao prince, attend a private fashion show from one of Cambodia’s top designers, take a helicopter tour over the Khmer temples of Angkor, and more.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Rather than fret over trends, make intentional alterations to the floor plan that feel special and not builder-grade, McSwain says.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
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They’ll be joined by the likes of Le Goy, Sony Pictures Television President Katherine Pope, International Production boss Wayne Garvie and several unannounced special guests.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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In 1982, Israel demonstrated exceptional tactical precision in Operation Mole Cricket 19 in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, destroying the majority of Syrian aircraft without suffering a single loss.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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Poor records and inability to confirm the data about these people that were thought to be these special, exceptional, healthy agers is a real problem.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Melania Trump wears black veil to Pope Francis' funeral as President Trump dons blue suit As the president's second term in office passes the 100-day mark, here is a closer look at the first lady's lookbook.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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His close alignment with Trump has damaged his tech company brands, and despite being one of the most proactive members of the president's team, his job approval rating has been ranked as even lower than Trump's.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Especial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/especial. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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