Only
Only adjective - Having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability.
Usage example: the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it
Special
Special adjective - Being the one or ones of a class with no other members.
Usage example: the President claimed that international terrorism was a special threat that required a special way of dealing with it
Only and special are semantically related in sole topic. Sometimes you can use "Only" instead an adjective "Special".
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Special and Only. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/only/special
Only & Special. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/only/special>.
Special or Only. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/only/special.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "only" and "special" have occurred on timeline