pressure groups

plural of pressure group
as in interests
a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote observed that if publishers gave in to every pressure group, nothing would ever get published

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 pressure groups Public pressure groups, and politicians such as Herman Mashaba, are calling on the government to do much, much more. Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 Increasingly, book bans are driven less by individuals than by politically motivated pressure groups targeting decision-makers. Spin Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026 The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security. Trevor Jackson, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 Cosseted by favorable districts and incumbent fundraising advantages, the majority caters mostly to pressure groups — especially socially conservative ones — that influence Republican primaries. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026 Johnson is calling for coordinated national efforts led by mayors and state governments, in concert with public pressure groups and local residents, to combat the actions by ICE, the Border Patrol and other federal authorities. David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026 At the same time, pressure groups worked hard to get younger, more YIMBY legislators elected. Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026 Nearly 72% of censorship attempts in 2024 were initiated by pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressure groups
Noun
  • Independent groups spent millions more backing unsuccessful Republican candidates for governor Chris Carr and Brad Raffensperger, with interests ranging from Planned Parenthood to Georgia Realtors rounding out the top spenders.
    David Wickert, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This would, sometimes, mean taking a hard line even between the monarch and family members if the aide believes that was the best course of action to uphold the interests of the monarchy.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Both proposals are undergoing review and debate among the city’s policymakers, who are getting an earful from the various interest groups.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Lawmakers influenced by opposing interest groups have failed to reach a consensus.
    Constance Malleret, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In typical Baltimore County Council fashion, most of those exemptions resulted from individual council members doing the bidding of special interests without regard to the public interest.
    David Plymyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Kelly has spent his career as a lobbyist representing special interests.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pressure groups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressure%20groups. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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