Exceptional
Exceptional adjective - Surpassing what is common or usual or expected.
Usage example: exceptional kindness
Special is a synonym for exceptional in irregular topic. In some cases you can use "Special" instead the word "Exceptional" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like excellent, remarkable, outstanding, unique. popular alternative
Special
Special adjective - Surpassing what is common or usual or expected.
Usage example: a special occasion
Exceptional is a synonym for special in distinguished topic. You can use "Exceptional" instead an adjective "Special", if it concerns topics such as unique. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- rare and exceptional
- rare and special
- notable and exceptional
- notable and special
- distinctive and exceptional
- distinctive and special
- particular and exceptional
- particular and special
- especial and exceptional
- especial and special
- singular and exceptional
- singular and special
- exclusive and exceptional
- exclusive and special
Both words in one sentence
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Alice is given a supposed magic item that will give her special/exceptional abilities.
Source: Magic Feather - A historian can make a case that Temujin's brutal and violent conquests was an exceptional and special period in human development, and likewise meted out violence out of conquest rather than racial persecution.
Source: Overshadowed by Controversy - Many protagonists possess such traits as extensive knowledge of history and/or high-end technology, exceptional physical condition, and from time to time, special powers.
Cite this Source
Special and Exceptional. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/exceptional/special
Exceptional & Special. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/exceptional/special>.
Special or Exceptional. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/exceptional/special.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "exceptional" and "special" have occurred on timeline