particular 1 of 2

adjective

pər-ˈti-kyə-lər How to pronounce particular (audio)
Definition of particularnext
1
as in nice
hard to please she's very particular about the cleanliness of her car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person that particular mug is Mike's

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in selective
tending to select carefully he's particular about the corn he buys

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in detailed
including many small descriptive features a very particular account of the breakdown of their marriage from the husband's perspective

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

particular

2 of 2

noun

1
as in item
a separate part in a list, account, or series requested a bill of particulars for the care he received in the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fact
a single piece of information everyone wanted to know all the particulars about the forthcoming merger

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective particular differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of particular are especial, individual, special, and specific. While all these words mean "of or relating to one thing or class," particular stresses the distinctness of something as an individual.

a ballet step of particular difficulty

Where would especial be a reasonable alternative to particular?

While the synonyms especial and particular are close in meaning, especial may add implications of preeminence or preference.

a matter of especial importance

When is individual a more appropriate choice than particular?

The words individual and particular can be used in similar contexts, but individual implies unequivocal reference to one of a class or group.

valued each individual opinion

When is it sensible to use special instead of particular?

Although the words special and particular have much in common, special stresses having a quality, character, identity, or use of its own.

special ingredients

When would specific be a good substitute for particular?

In some situations, the words specific and particular are roughly equivalent. However, 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 particular
Adjective
My particular case is a female nickname that is the same as a male nickname. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 No matter what color or finish is in during a particular season, true high-net-worth nails will always be centered on cared-for cuticles, immaculate polish placement (no smudges, chips, or flooding), and minimalist or neutral designs. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
Particulars matter Haiti observers warn that considering the country’s vexing history with electoral fraud, violence, problematic votes and post-election crises, the particulars of its electoral machinery do matter. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 As a tool, the AQI is inconsistent overall—its forecasts can be slow and imprecise, and its particulars don’t always have a bearing on direct experience. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for particular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for particular
  1. nice
  2. personal
  3. selective
  4. detailed
  5. item
  6. fact
  7. careful
  8. subjective
Adjective
  • New York has a nice blend of skill and compete in a system that should produce reliable NHL talent but still has a lot of work ahead in this next rebuild.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As for the rest of the space, the open-concept kitchen’s peninsula and granite countertops are a nice touch, as is the fact that the bedroom is big enough for a king-size mattress and a home office.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • Both are a complete overhaul of their long-haul cabins, featuring seat heating, seat cooling and personal climate controls.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The Fireplace Shangri-la room is your own personal retreat, complete with an oversized soaking tub (big enough for even a tall girl like myself to enjoy) and separate shower.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • Every other event that should be played in a venue no bigger than 20,000 must be selective about going to a football stadium.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Bitcoin emerges as a key escape route, offering unparalleled portability and protection against selective taxation or confiscation, allowing capital to exit before traditional avenues become crowded.
    — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of selective
Adjective
  • That could change an early stage of mineral exploration, where companies must decide where to spend money collecting more detailed data and drilling test wells.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • OpenAI’s detailed, self-critical account of pausing its own model functions as a claim to that same safety-conscious ground, whether or not that was the intent behind it.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of detailed
Noun
  • And even if the goals are truly equal in the administration’s mind, including oil and gas prices at all — and not other items — is a notable shift.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The defense previously argued all the items in Mangione's backpack were obtained in an unconstitutional search, but judges in both the federal and state cases disagreed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of item
Noun
  • Those people do not like the fact that their AI output could be detected as having come from AI.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Compounding the crisis is the fact that airlines are actively resisting standardization in a bid to outdo each other.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of fact
Adjective
  • Kurz said that the field team put careful consideration into selecting each site.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Steve Bardens/Getty Images Brighton & Hove Albion must be careful that the chill of winter does not arrive much earlier than normal for them this season in the Conference League.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress-a systematic review.
    — Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2026
  • One group got no special instructions, while the other was told to actively find moments of awe on their walk, seeking out novelty, tapping into wonder, and noticing the vastness of things, even in their own neighborhood—all subjective, of course.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of subjective

Phrases Containing particular

Browse Nearby Words

parti-color
particular
particularities
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Cite this Entry

“Particular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/particular. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on particular

Nglish: Translation of particular for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about particular

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