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Definition of individualnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective individual differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of individual are especial, particular, special, and specific. While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

Where would especial be a reasonable alternative to individual?

The words especial and individual can be used in similar contexts, but especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

When would particular be a good substitute for individual?

The words particular and individual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

When is special a more appropriate choice than individual?

The synonyms special and individual are sometimes interchangeable, but special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

When could specific be used to replace individual?

While in some cases nearly identical to individual, specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

How does the adjective individual differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of individual are especial, particular, special, and specific. While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

Where would especial be a reasonable alternative to individual?

The words especial and individual can be used in similar contexts, but especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

When would particular be a good substitute for individual?

The words particular and individual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

When is special a more appropriate choice than individual?

The synonyms special and individual are sometimes interchangeable, but special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

When could specific be used to replace individual?

While in some cases nearly identical to individual, specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species.

children with specific nutritional needs

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 individual
Noun
For women with dense tissue, the ACP says 3D mammography may be considered as a supplement, while advising against routine MRI or ultrasound for average-risk individuals. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026 The group includes both individuals accused of being disloyal and their dependents. Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Musk was the biggest individual financial backer of OpenAI early on, contributing more than $44 million to the startup, according to court documents. John Ruwitch, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026 Identical twins Khadijah Haqq and Malika Haqq show off their individual styles at the Hulu Get Real House event in Los Angeles on April 22. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for individual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for individual
Noun
  • The document offers the most detailed account yet of the missing person’s investigation that culminated on Friday with the discovery of Limon’s body in a set of black trash bags discarded along the Howard Frankland Bridge.
    Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Murmurs of possible tactics abound—including more talk within the administration of the DPA after Anthropic’s Mythos announcement, one person with knowledge of such discussions told us.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The case centers on Musk’s claim that OpenAI, Altman and Microsoft betrayed OpenAI's original mission as a nonprofit to benefit humanity by forming a for-profit entity in March 2019, 13 months after Musk left the OpenAI board.
    Deepa Seetharaman, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Musk alleges he was duped when Altman transformed OpenAI from a nonprofit entity into a for-profit juggernaut.
    John Ruwitch, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Many artists within this tradition went from seeking to imitate the beauty of the world to expressing their subjective experience.
    Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Advocacy journalism is a form of news in which reporters take an unapologetically subjective stance (albeit factual) to advance a social or political goal.
    Karen McIntyre, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Iran’s foreign minister instead made two separate visits to Islamabad on the weekend, with Axios reporting that a new proposal was made to the US and conveyed through Pakistani mediators.
    Dan Strumpf, Bloomberg, 27 Apr. 2026
  • These separate incidents have always stayed with me.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Scientific studies identified safrole, the chemical compound responsible for its characteristic scent, as toxic to the liver and carcinogenic in laboratory animals.
    Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Video of the pair's initial greeting at the White House on Monday is circulating online, showing the president firmly grasping hands with the monarch, and giving a few characteristic tugs.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The two men were too far away to be heard by reporters, and television cameras did not pick up the audio.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Despite his team’s steady slide in the standings, Flagg kept making history a year after leading Duke to the Final Four as just the fourth freshman to be named AP men’s basketball player of the year.
    Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Participants learned the locations of fifty objects; each was associated with a distinct noise.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • There could be as many as ~1017 icy, round objects in hydrostatic equilibrium in the Milky Way galaxy alone, most of which are likely not bound to a parent star at all.
    Big Think, Big Think, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Today, in the 2050s, quantum networks send information that protects our banks, power grids and personal identities.
    David Awschalom, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Beyond credit reports, certain services monitor other personal data that may be exposed in breaches or sold online.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Individual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/individual. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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