especial vs exceptional

especial and exceptional both are adjectives.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
especial	No	Yes	No	No
exceptional	No	Yes	No	No

As adjectives, especial and exceptional are synonyms defined as:

especial and exceptional: surpassing what is common or usual or expected

Other synonyms of especial include particular, special.

especial (adjective)	exceptional (adjective)
surpassing what is common or usual or expected	deviating widely from a norm of physical or mental ability; used especially of children below normal in intelligence
	far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
	surpassing what is common or usual or expected