1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary
a candidate who handled the stunning defeat with especial grace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 especial
Not every governor hands out rosary beads, especial rosary beads blessed by the late Pope Francis.
—
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
To one pursuing the even tenor of his usual routine, the chewing of coca gives no especial sensation, in fact the only result seems to be a negative one, an absence of the customary desire for food and sleep.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Further, studies have shown that people with more abdominal fat have smaller brain volumes especial in areas related to memory and decision making.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The plan is to install some 17 miles of wildlife fencing to connect habitats and lower vehicle crashes, especial with deer and elk (which can weigh over 1,000 pounds and cause a lot of damage to passenger vehicles).
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for especial
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
To one pursuing the even tenor of his usual routine, the chewing of coca gives no especial sensation, in fact the only result seems to be a negative one, an absence of the customary desire for food and sleep.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Further, studies have shown that people with more abdominal fat have smaller brain volumes especial in areas related to memory and decision making.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The plan is to install some 17 miles of wildlife fencing to connect habitats and lower vehicle crashes, especial with deer and elk (which can weigh over 1,000 pounds and cause a lot of damage to passenger vehicles).
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for especial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for especial
Adjective
-
Her appointment was agreed at an extraordinary meeting Monday of the festival’s executive board, made up of San Sebastián City Council, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the Basque Government and the Spanish Ministry of Culture.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And yet many were created with extraordinary artistic ambition.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez is a lead contender to replace Morales, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This takes the Hylian magic of Nintendo’s long-running RPG game and brings it to the modern gamer in ways both familiar and unique.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The focal point of Monday's case is the Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable searches of people, their homes, papers, and effects, unless police obtain a warrant issued by a neutral magistrate, and aimed at obtaining specific evidence of a crime.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Supima now uses isotopic profiling, which is a method that analyzes the naturally occurring trace elements in a fiber to verify its specific point of origin.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Wednesday’s game, in particular, ended in extremely bizarre fashion with Xavier Edwards turning an unusual unassisted double play with the bases loaded and Freddie Freeman at the plate.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In an unusual development, the bank published a range of forecasts given the geopolitical uncertainties.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Guests sail aboard intimate expedition ships while historians and specialists lead lectures and discussions focused on regional history, maritime heritage and cultural context.—
Malika Bowling,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
If flexibility is key, Mother’s Day also includes The Salon at Ômo, the restaurant’s intimate living-room–style lounge.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fifty years in one organization is really special.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
His elite pass protection and calm feet mean he can be trusted immediately to keep the quarterback clean on passing downs, while also providing a high-effort presence on special teams.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
About one-fifth of the state is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought designation.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Set in the late 1980s, the film follows 13-year-old Felice (an exceptional Tiziano Menichelli), a budding tennis star whose overbearing father hooks him up with Raul Getti (Favino), a flameout former pro with a new lithium prescription and a serious ladies-man streak.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Qatar could deepen its already close defense ties to Turkey, and China, which is close to Iran, could play a greater diplomatic role.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Especial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/especial. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
