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especial

adjective
es·​pe·​cial | \ i-ˈspe-shəl How to pronounce especial (audio) \

Definition of especial

: being distinctive: such as
a : directed toward a particular individual, group, or end sent especial greetings to his son took especial care to speak clearly
b : of special note or importance : unusually great or significant a decision of especial relevance
c : highly distinctive or personal : peculiar had an especial dislike for music
d : close, intimate his especial crony
e : specific, particular had no especial destination in mind
in especial
: in particular
Other Words from especial Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about especial

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Choose the Right Synonym for especial

special, especial, specific, particular, individual mean of or relating to one thing or class. special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own. special ingredients especial may add implications of preeminence or preference. a matter of especial importance specific implies a quality or character distinguishing a kind or a species. children with specific nutritional needs particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual. a ballet step of particular difficulty individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group. valued each individual opinion

Examples of especial in a Sentence

This is a matter of especial importance. a candidate who handled the stunning defeat with especial grace

Recent Examples on the Web

 Estoy más que honorada de haber sido elegida por La Duquesa de Sussex y @BritishVogue para el número especial Forces for Change. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Salma Hayek Couldn't Tell Anyone About Meghan Markle's British Vogue Involvement—Not Even Her Fellow Cover Stars," 1 Aug. 2019 Venckiene’s lawyers could ask the Supreme Court to intervene, but the high court rarely takes on such issues, especial when neither the 7th Circuit nor the U.S. district court suggested any of the legal questions were close calls. — Washington Post, "Jailed judge alleging pedophile ring on verge of extradition," 22 July 2019 Yet, to my especial surprise, many of these downtrodden damsels weren’t crusading millennial activists fresh from campus indoctrination camps but women in their sixties from my own generation. — Lionel Shriver, Harper's magazine, "Fifty-Fifty Follies," 10 June 2019 La demócrata Annette Taddeo ganó la elección especial por el Distrito 40 del Senado de la Florida. — David Smiley, miamiherald, "Signs point to a Frank Artiles comeback campaign for the Florida Senate | Miami Herald," 11 May 2018 Thank you sweet for the quick ride Que dia especial! — Charles Curtis, For The Win, "Tom Brady and Gisele are in Qatar riding camels," 17 Apr. 2018 Mr Pinker draws especial comfort from the decline of faith. — The Economist, "A future perfectSteven Pinker’s case for optimism," 24 Feb. 2018 And the event has a growing following in China, where prestigious awards tend to command especial reverence, and where the local entertainment market continues to boom. — Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, "STX Entertainment to Distribute Golden Globes in China (Exclusive)," 18 Dec. 2017 This was an especial gift since the Pirelli P Zero Corsa summer tires that work so admirably in sunny Lisbon were cold, hard and hydroplaning luridly in Wales. — Dan Neil, WSJ, "Why the $285,000 McLaren 720S Is the Shape of Things to Come," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'especial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of especial

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for especial

Middle English, from Anglo-French — more at special

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More Definitions for especial

especial

adjective
How to pronounce especial (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of especial

formal : more than usual

See the full definition for especial in the English Language Learners Dictionary

especial

adjective
es·​pe·​cial | \ i-ˈspe-shəl How to pronounce especial (audio) \

Kids Definition of especial

: more than usual : special

Other Words from especial

especially adverb

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