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

But over the past two years, the federal government has sought to strip back those very thresholds. — Ryan Green, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026 What’s more, fewer than 5% of sitting CHROs have backgrounds in strategy consulting, product, or engineering—the very things CEOs now want, says Heidrick & Struggles partner Brad Warga. — Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for very

Recent Examples of Synonyms for very

Adverb

Today, however, plague is curable and extremely unlikely to blow up into a new pandemic, experts say.

— Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
Nowhere was his balancing act viewed more extremely than with Ukraine.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of extremely

Adverb

And yet 59% of the Hornets’ shots came from three-point range — this is a team that really never stops shooting them, for better or for worse.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Loves, cities, and musical genres may change, but that girl who felt left out has never really stopped writing.

— Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of really

Adjective

Zygielbaum was surprised however that the DOJ reached out only to him, and not the Republican clerk in neighboring Weld County, which also houses a sizable portion of that same congressional district.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
On the surface, his new album Antione’s Son is the same old same old—airy melodies, drug talk, vomiting ad-libs—but punched up by suburban ennui and in-the-weeds romantic tales that makes the music feel refreshingly personal.

— Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of same

Adjective

The Washington State offense finished with just 244 yards of offense — 191 in the air and a mere 53 on the ground.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Without it, growth would have slowed to a mere fraction of a percentage point, leaving the economy nearly stagnant and flirting with recession.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of mere

Adjective

As in many of the attractions, he’s based on a real person who experienced certain events.

— Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
The tension follows the women to Courtney’s event celebrating her husband’s birthday, where the real entertainment for the evening was Tia and Gizelle lacing stepping in the ring.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of real

Adjective

The actor wore a long black leather coat over a simple black tank, paired with straight-leg blue jeans cinched with a leather belt.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
The company played with flexible workdays instead of rigid schedules, clearer windows for collaboration, simpler rules for meetings, better ways to share and document work, and more intentional reasons for coming together in person.

— Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of simple

Adverb

There's no doubt that Riley Green's acoustic performances are incredibly popular.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
These teachers work with students who have an incredibly diverse set of needs, including those with autism, learning disabilities such as dyslexia, developmental delays and physical disabilities.

— Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of incredibly

Browse Nearby Words

verve

very

vespers

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Style

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of very

adverb

adjective

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Example Sentences

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Can something be 'very unique'?

The Problems with 'Very'

Can you say 'very pleased'?

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