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

Shanghai, China — One of China’s most exciting art curators, X Zhu-Nowell, is giving me a very Shanghai morning. — Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 Comedy is hard to set up, and that was a very helpful device. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Which occupations lose their very purpose when the human element is removed? — Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026 This very magazine once endorsed something called an Autumn Negroni, which adds Fernet-Branca and Cynar. — Sara Vilkomerson, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for very

Recent Examples of Synonyms for very

Adverb

Some wondered whether Schrödinger’s equation might be an approximation that works extremely well at the microscopic scale but breaks down at the macroscopic scale, which would mean the measurement postulate of the Copenhagen interpretation is right.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
In the meantime, no one should refrain from using sunscreen, which is extremely well-proven to cause cancer.

— Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of extremely

Adverb

And to have this chance to see these birds is really thrilling.

— JOSEPH FREDERICK, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
In Our Opinion goes beyond the headlines to examine what decisions really mean, where policies succeed or fail, and what leaders should do next.

— Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of really

Adjective

That same month, the Republican administration claimed Nevada had 1,500 noncitizen voters on its voter rolls.

— SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
The idea grew out of a conversation with a friend who called to wish him a happy birthday and mentioned having just finished a book about a woman executed on that same date roughly 250 years earlier.

— Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of same

Adjective

In response to the letter, Logan said his office is focused on conducting a fair and secure election while noting that Election Day is a mere 18 days away.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
But, even then, American socialists walked a fine line—they were considered too radical for the mainstream and a mere bourgeois affectation by committed class revolutionaries.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of mere

Adjective

While these tracks are endearing enough, Way Dynamic’s real magic sits at the juncture of folk and forlornness, when Young’s guitar is allowed to ramble and his regrets are sharp enough to bruise.

— Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
These reactive oxygen species, or ROS, can do real damage to mitochondria, cells and organs.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of real

Adverb

While these issues can be addressed, the costs can be incredibly high, and under Florida law, developers are only on the hook for anything identified within the first seven years after a building is handed over to the homeowners association.

— Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
The pre-selection debates about three- or four-loss SEC squads and some team no one actually watches will prove incredibly tiresome, too.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of incredibly

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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 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of very

adverb

adjective

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Can something be 'very unique'?

The Problems with 'Very'

Can you say 'very pleased'?

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