diff --git a/doc/usage/extensions/autodoc.rst b/doc/usage/extensions/autodoc.rst
index 5222592abd5..a07042781e8 100644
--- a/doc/usage/extensions/autodoc.rst
+++ b/doc/usage/extensions/autodoc.rst
@@ -127,6 +127,17 @@ inserting them into the page source under a suitable :rst:dir:`py:module`,
            .. automodule:: foo
               :no-undoc-members:
 
+     .. tip::
+
+        You can use autodoc directive options to temporarily override or
+        extend default options which takes list as an input. For example::
+
+           .. autoclass:: Noodle
+              :members: eat
+              :private-members: +_spicy, _garlickly
+
+     .. versionchanged:: 3.5
+        The default options can be overridden or extended temporarily.
 
    * Members without docstrings will be left out, unless you give the
      ``undoc-members`` flag option::
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/autodoc/directive.py b/sphinx/ext/autodoc/directive.py
index b4c5fd28d92..c932c6f9f74 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/autodoc/directive.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/autodoc/directive.py
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@
                            'ignore-module-all', 'exclude-members', 'member-order',
                            'imported-members']
 
+AUTODOC_EXTENDABLE_OPTIONS = ['members', 'private-members', 'special-members',
+                              'exclude-members']
+
 
 class DummyOptionSpec(dict):
     """An option_spec allows any options."""
@@ -90,7 +93,19 @@ def process_documenter_options(documenter: "Type[Documenter]", config: Config, o
         else:
             negated = options.pop('no-' + name, True) is None
             if name in config.autodoc_default_options and not negated:
-                options[name] = config.autodoc_default_options[name]
+                if name in options and isinstance(config.autodoc_default_options[name], str):
+                    # take value from options if present or extend it
+                    # with autodoc_default_options if necessary
+                    if name in AUTODOC_EXTENDABLE_OPTIONS:
+                        if options[name] is not None and options[name].startswith('+'):
+                            options[name] = ','.join([config.autodoc_default_options[name],
+                                                      options[name][1:]])
+                else:
+                    options[name] = config.autodoc_default_options[name]
+
+            elif options.get(name) is not None:
+                # remove '+' from option argument if there's nothing to merge it with
+                options[name] = options[name].lstrip('+')
 
     return Options(assemble_option_dict(options.items(), documenter.option_spec))
 
diff --git a/tests/test_ext_autodoc.py b/tests/test_ext_autodoc.py
index 93b80f7adf5..42aa3e80828 100644
--- a/tests/test_ext_autodoc.py
+++ b/tests/test_ext_autodoc.py
@@ -569,6 +569,36 @@ def test_autodoc_members(app):
         '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedstaticmeth(cls)'
     ]
 
+    # ALL-members override autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": None}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["members"] = "inheritedstaticmeth"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedclassmeth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedmeth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedstaticmeth(cls)'
+    ]
+
+    # members override autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": "inheritedmeth"}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["members"] = "inheritedstaticmeth"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedmeth()',
+    ]
+
+    # members extends autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": "+inheritedmeth"}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["members"] = "inheritedstaticmeth"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedmeth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedstaticmeth(cls)'
+    ]
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_exclude_members(app):
@@ -588,6 +618,57 @@ def test_autodoc_exclude_members(app):
         '.. py:class:: Base()',
     ]
 
+    # + has no effect when autodoc_default_options are not present
+    options = {"members": None,
+               "exclude-members": "+inheritedmeth,inheritedstaticmeth"}
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedclassmeth()'
+    ]
+
+    # exclude-members overrides autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": None,
+               "exclude-members": "inheritedmeth"}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["exclude-members"] = "inheritedstaticmeth"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedclassmeth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedstaticmeth(cls)'
+    ]
+
+    # exclude-members extends autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": None,
+               "exclude-members": "+inheritedmeth"}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["exclude-members"] = "inheritedstaticmeth"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedclassmeth()',
+    ]
+
+    # no exclude-members causes use autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": None}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["exclude-members"] = "inheritedstaticmeth,inheritedmeth"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedclassmeth()',
+    ]
+
+    # empty exclude-members cancels autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": None,
+               "exclude-members": None}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["exclude-members"] = "inheritedstaticmeth,inheritedmeth"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.inheritance.Base', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Base()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedclassmeth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedmeth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Base.inheritedstaticmeth(cls)'
+    ]
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_undoc_members(app):
@@ -612,6 +693,48 @@ def test_autodoc_undoc_members(app):
         '   .. py:method:: Class.undocmeth()'
     ]
 
+    # use autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"members": None}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["undoc-members"] = None
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.attr',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.docattr',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.excludemeth()',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.inst_attr_comment',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.inst_attr_inline',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.inst_attr_string',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.mdocattr',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.meth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.moore(a, e, f) -> happiness',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.roger(a, *, b=2, c=3, d=4, e=5, f=6)',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.skipattr',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.skipmeth()',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.udocattr',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.undocmeth()'
+    ]
+
+    # options negation work check
+    options = {"members": None,
+               "no-undoc-members": None}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["undoc-members"] = None
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.attr',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.docattr',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.excludemeth()',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.inst_attr_comment',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.inst_attr_inline',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.inst_attr_string',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.mdocattr',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.meth()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.moore(a, e, f) -> happiness',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.skipmeth()',
+        '   .. py:attribute:: Class.udocattr',
+    ]
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_inherited_members(app):
@@ -713,6 +836,38 @@ def test_autodoc_special_members(app):
         '   .. py:method:: Class.undocmeth()'
     ]
 
+    # specific special methods from autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"undoc-members": None}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["special-members"] = "__special2__"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.__special2__()',
+    ]
+
+    # specific special methods option with autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"undoc-members": None,
+               "special-members": "__init__,__special1__"}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["special-members"] = "__special2__"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.__init__(arg)',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.__special1__()',
+    ]
+
+    # specific special methods merge with autodoc_default_options
+    options = {"undoc-members": None,
+               "special-members": "+__init__,__special1__"}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options["special-members"] = "__special2__"
+    actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
+    assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
+        '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.__init__(arg)',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.__special1__()',
+        '   .. py:method:: Class.__special2__()',
+    ]
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_ignore_module_all(app):
@@ -740,7 +895,7 @@ def test_autodoc_ignore_module_all(app):
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_noindex(app):
-    options = {"noindex": True}
+    options = {"noindex": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -821,7 +976,7 @@ def test_autodoc_inner_class(app):
         '',
     ]
 
-    options['show-inheritance'] = True
+    options['show-inheritance'] = None
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.InnerChild', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -865,7 +1020,7 @@ def test_autodoc_staticmethod(app):
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_descriptor(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.descriptor.Class', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -893,7 +1048,7 @@ def test_autodoc_descriptor(app):
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_cached_property(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.cached_property.Foo', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -913,8 +1068,8 @@ def test_autodoc_member_order(app):
     # case member-order='bysource'
     options = {"members": None,
                'member-order': 'bysource',
-               "undoc-members": True,
-               'private-members': True}
+               "undoc-members": None,
+               'private-members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
     assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
         '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
@@ -938,8 +1093,8 @@ def test_autodoc_member_order(app):
     # case member-order='groupwise'
     options = {"members": None,
                'member-order': 'groupwise',
-               "undoc-members": True,
-               'private-members': True}
+               "undoc-members": None,
+               'private-members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
     assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
         '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
@@ -962,8 +1117,8 @@ def test_autodoc_member_order(app):
 
     # case member-order=None
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True,
-               'private-members': True}
+               "undoc-members": None,
+               'private-members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.Class', options)
     assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
         '.. py:class:: Class(arg)',
@@ -990,7 +1145,7 @@ def test_autodoc_module_member_order(app):
     # case member-order='bysource'
     options = {"members": 'foo, Bar, baz, qux, Quux, foobar',
                'member-order': 'bysource',
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.sort_by_all', options)
     assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
         '.. py:module:: target.sort_by_all',
@@ -1005,8 +1160,8 @@ def test_autodoc_module_member_order(app):
     # case member-order='bysource' and ignore-module-all
     options = {"members": 'foo, Bar, baz, qux, Quux, foobar',
                'member-order': 'bysource',
-               "undoc-members": True,
-               "ignore-module-all": True}
+               "undoc-members": None,
+               "ignore-module-all": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.sort_by_all', options)
     assert list(filter(lambda l: '::' in l, actual)) == [
         '.. py:module:: target.sort_by_all',
@@ -1053,7 +1208,7 @@ def test_autodoc_class_scope(app):
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_class_attributes(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.AttCls', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -1163,7 +1318,7 @@ def test_autoattribute_instance_attributes(app):
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_slots(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.slots', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -1561,7 +1716,7 @@ def test_partialmethod_undoc_members(app):
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_typed_instance_variables(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.typed_vars', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -1660,8 +1815,8 @@ def test_autodoc_typed_instance_variables(app):
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_autodoc_typed_inherited_instance_variables(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True,
-               "inherited-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None,
+               "inherited-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.typed_vars.Derived', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -2284,7 +2439,7 @@ def test_type_union_operator(app):
 @pytest.mark.skipif(sys.version_info < (3, 6), reason='python 3.6+ is required.')
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_hide_value(app):
-    options = {'members': True}
+    options = {'members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.hide_value', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
diff --git a/tests/test_ext_autodoc_autoclass.py b/tests/test_ext_autodoc_autoclass.py
index 74ddb02f98e..e729f220de0 100644
--- a/tests/test_ext_autodoc_autoclass.py
+++ b/tests/test_ext_autodoc_autoclass.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def test_classes(app):
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_instance_variable(app):
-    options = {'members': True}
+    options = {'members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.instance_variable.Bar', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ def test_instance_variable(app):
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_inherited_instance_variable(app):
-    options = {'members': True,
-               'inherited-members': True}
+    options = {'members': None,
+               'inherited-members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.instance_variable.Bar', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ def test_slots_attribute(app):
 @pytest.mark.skipif(sys.version_info < (3, 7), reason='python 3.7+ is required.')
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_show_inheritance_for_subclass_of_generic_type(app):
-    options = {'show-inheritance': True}
+    options = {'show-inheritance': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.classes.Quux', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
diff --git a/tests/test_ext_autodoc_automodule.py b/tests/test_ext_autodoc_automodule.py
index df57724b304..3332704bbe6 100644
--- a/tests/test_ext_autodoc_automodule.py
+++ b/tests/test_ext_autodoc_automodule.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('html', testroot='ext-autodoc')
 def test_empty_all(app):
-    options = {'members': True}
+    options = {'members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.empty_all', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -39,6 +39,6 @@ def test_empty_all(app):
 def test_subclass_of_mocked_object(app):
     sys.modules.pop('target', None)  # unload target module to clear the module cache
 
-    options = {'members': True}
+    options = {'members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.need_mocks', options)
     assert '.. py:class:: Inherited(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any)' in actual
diff --git a/tests/test_ext_autodoc_configs.py b/tests/test_ext_autodoc_configs.py
index bae684397b5..06bf39c24c4 100644
--- a/tests/test_ext_autodoc_configs.py
+++ b/tests/test_ext_autodoc_configs.py
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ def test_mocked_module_imports(app, warning):
                     confoverrides={'autodoc_typehints': "signature"})
 def test_autodoc_typehints_signature(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.typehints', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ def test_autodoc_typehints_signature(app):
                     confoverrides={'autodoc_typehints': "none"})
 def test_autodoc_typehints_none(app):
     options = {"members": None,
-               "undoc-members": True}
+               "undoc-members": None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'module', 'target.typehints', options)
     assert list(actual) == [
         '',
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ def test_autodoc_default_options(app):
     assert '   .. py:attribute:: EnumCls.val4' not in actual
 
     # with :members: = True
-    app.config.autodoc_default_options = {'members': True}
+    app.config.autodoc_default_options = {'members': None}
     actual = do_autodoc(app, 'class', 'target.enums.EnumCls')
     assert '   .. py:attribute:: EnumCls.val1' in actual
     assert '   .. py:attribute:: EnumCls.val4' not in actual