INDIVIDUAL Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

individual 1 of 2

noun

Definition of individual

as in person

a member of the human race every individual has value

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in entity

one that has a real and independent existence our general concept of what constitutes a chair is based on our experience with many individuals that were called chairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nonentity

individual

2 of 2

adjective

ˌin-də-ˈvi-jə-wəl

as in subjective

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person everyone has his or her own individual opinion about the subject, but you will have to work together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in separate

not the same or shared guest rooms at the inn have individual bathrooms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in characteristic

serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group he's got a highly individual laugh that I would know anywhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Another worry all unions share is whether removing an individual’s identity from data is enough to protect privacy. — Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 Also, all the volunteers in Stoliker’s study were healthy individuals, not patients suffering from psychological or psychiatric disorders that potential therapies using psychedelics could be aimed at. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Its effects depend on content, individual vulnerabilities and how platforms are used. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026 The Toast survey also found that solo diners generally preferred small individual tables over bar seating or communal arrangements. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for individual

Recent Examples of Synonyms for individual

Noun

Being able to have the in-person connectivity with talking to your coworkers, being able to collaborate, is great and then also the larger programming of the company as a whole.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
One person was killed in a strike on Riyadh airport, a Saudia Airlines plane was reportedly in flames, and hundreds of flights have been canceled.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of person

Noun

Enetec was sanctioned in July under a presidential executive order authorizing sanctions to Cuban entities posing a direct threat to national security or involved in repression.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Private equity firms also sometimes own both physician staffing firms and Independent Dispute Resolution entities, creating a conflict of interest and undermining the law's fairness.

— Anna Schecter, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of entity

Adjective

The lawsuits, in his eyes, are simply cases of personal misfortune and landlord greed.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026
Meta has pressed ahead with its own personal AI agent, launching its Muse agent in early September, modeled on the open-source AI agent OpenClaw.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of personal

Adjective

Lucy’s always been a hard vocalist to classify, intensely emotive but largely separate from the monster-growl arms race.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
Accessibility Seven king and double/queen accessible rooms are fashioned with private, separate entrances and patios.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of separate

Adjective

Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.

— Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Our brains continuously predict what should happen next, and when the outcome differs from that prediction, characteristic neural responses can appear.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Noun

Federal prosecutors have accused a Cuban man living as a lawful permanent resident in Cass County of voting illegally.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
The increase in online sports betting has worsened mental health problems in younger men, leading to more hospital visits as a result.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of man

Noun

There’s the menagerie of found object ephemera that provides a sense of intimacy and personality (look for the wild bit of art hanging in the spa entrance).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Bag designs were more polarized, with oversize silhouettes and revivals of heritage styles juxtaposed to fantasy minaudière designs, sculptural clutches and embellished mini bags displaying brands’ craftsmanship and doubling as objects of art.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of object

Adjective

Structured demand required manual interpretation of requirements, often influenced by subjective bias.

— Adam Feiner, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
The executive pointed to the trade for Freddy Peralta as one in which subjective ideas, including Peralta’s clubhouse energy, pushed the Mets to value the pitcher more than objective measures.

— Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of subjective

Browse Nearby Words

inditing

individual

individualism

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Individual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/individual. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of individual

noun

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on individual

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deportment

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes