VERY Synonyms: 352 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'very' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of very are equal , equivalent , identical , same , and selfsame . While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," very , like selfsame , may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind. // the very point I was trying to make

Q: When is 'equal' a more appropriate choice than 'very'?

The words equal and very can be used in similar contexts, but equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality. // equal shares in the business

Q: When might 'equivalent' be a better fit than 'very'?

In some situations, the words equivalent and very are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance. // two houses equivalent in market value

Q: In what contexts can 'identical' take the place of 'very'?

The words identical and very are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details. // identical results

Q: How are the words 'same' and 'selfsame' related as synonyms of 'very'?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things. // took the same route // derived from the selfsame source

very 1 of 2

adverb

ˈver-ē

Definition of very

as in extremely

to a great degree that was a very brave thing to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in really

in actual fact the very same thing happened to me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

very

2 of 2

adjective

as in same

being one and not another we stayed in the very hotel my parents stayed in for their honeymoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mere

being this and no more the very thought of having to go through that again is scary

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in real

existing in fact and not merely as a possibility tourism is the very lifeblood of this community—the town would surely die without it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in simple

having no exceptions or restrictions the very nerve of that woman—telling me how to raise my own children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word very different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of very are equal, equivalent, identical, same, and selfsame. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

When is equal a more appropriate choice than very?

The words equal and very can be used in similar contexts, but equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When might equivalent be a better fit than very?

In some situations, the words equivalent and very are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

In what contexts can identical take the place of very?

The words identical and very are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

How are the words same and selfsame related as synonyms of very?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route

derived from the selfsame source

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 very

Adverb

Hellbent on winning the games that eluded them, the Lions defaulted to a very human reaction. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Johnston’s red-brick home is a century old, and in contrast to the university campus, very little about it or the surrounding neighborhood have changed over the past 100 years. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026

Adjective

In this way, the burden imposed on practices can become a barrier to care for the very patients the program is intended to help. — Jeffrey Millstein, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 But from the very beginning, Root knew the show was something special. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for very

Recent Examples of Synonyms for very

Adverb

Members of the search-and-rescue team who helped save the friends say the area is extremely treacherous and potentially dangerous even in daylight and perfect conditions.

— Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
The Washington Capitals’ system is headlined by the highly creative Cole Hutson and the extremely competitive Ryan Leonard.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of extremely

Adverb

The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon really lived up to their nickname, defeating Malawi 3-0 with all three goals coming in the first half.

— Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Bridal pajamas take on many forms—and the best ones, complete with feather embellishments and silky fabrics, are really pretty fabulous.

— Lea Donenberg, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of really

Adjective

His distribution was decent, too, completing eight progressive passes per game, placing him 11th among that same group.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
That same month, AQMD ordered the company to craft a mitigation plan after residents submitted 900 complaints within a week.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of same

Adjective

This shift from mere point accumulation to empowering informed redemption is crucial as loyalty evolves from a retention tool to a growth engine for financial institutions.

— Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
As designed for the Multivan California Beach, the bed and kitchen set weighs a mere 49 lb (22 kg)), a savings of over 80% compared to the hard bed and kitchen set in the current California Beach production lineup.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of mere

Adjective

The task seemed like a simple one for a digital agent, as the booking form was online.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Mungiu refuses to supply easy answers or simple paths to identification in this compelling provocation, which poses unresolvable questions to viewers about our biases and presumptions.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of simple

Adverb

Seattle’s pipeline is incredibly healthy, anchored by a top defense prospect in Chase Reid and a highly skilled pivot in Jake O’Brien.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
The combination bristles feel amazing on my scalp (like the best head scratch ever) while also smoothing my incredibly frizzy hair.

— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of incredibly

Adverb

But the only way that truly would have been the case would have been if Beal took the minimum elsewhere.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
But there’s a case to be made for visiting in late summer or early fall, before the temperatures truly plummet and after the crowds thin out a little.

— Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of truly

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verve

very

vespers

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Style

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of very

adverb

adjective

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Example Sentences

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The Problems with 'Very'

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