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very

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adjective

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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

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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

Examples 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
Cincinnati Enquirer While former president Donald Trump won by a greater margin statewide, the presidential race in the Cincinnati region looked very similar to four years earlier. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024 Because House polls are subject to a lot of error, and the other indicators that our House uses can be very noisy, our model thinks there is about a 1-in-2 chance that one party wins a double-digit majority. G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
What was exciting was that Jacques invited us to be part of it since the very beginning. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024 Over livestreams and in conferences around the US, these groups have prepared thousands of activists for this very moment. David Gilbert, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for very 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • Incumbent Carmen Montano and Councilmember Hon Lien are locked in an extremely close mayoral race in Milpitas.
    Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • At first, the girls are only in danger of being forced to listen to one man’s extremely pretentious opinions about religion, philosophy, culture, and yes, pop music, which is terrifying in itself.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024
Adverb
  • Or, to be more direct: Do the Niners really believe that’s what’s in store for them in the second half?
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • So is Newsom really positioning himself for a presidential run?
    Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The longtime civil rights attorney rose to power that same year with the goal of reimagining how the DA’s office prosecutes cases and pushing back against the nation’s legacy of mass incarceration, which disproportionately affected Black residents and communities of color.
    Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Over these same years, the polling tells us that Democrats have gone from having a modest edge in how voters identify themselves in partisan terms to having a small disadvantage.
    Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • One search through artificial intelligence chatbots generates an exponential amount of 25 times more electricity than a Google search and will become the predominant energy consumer across several countries in a mere number of years.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Three examples: Saginaw County, Michigan, flipped to Trump in 2016 before Biden won it by a mere 303 votes in 2020.
    Dave Lawler, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The English teacher dug out the real recommendation from his briefcase.
    Adam Patric Miller, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
  • Never mind the state’s policies (high gas taxes, special fuels mandate and a push to end fossil-fuels production) are the real causes of crushing gas prices.
    Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Both measures required a simple majority for passage.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Clark kept her look simple with a black sweater and bomber jacket at the Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the Butler Bulldogs play.
    Natasha Dye, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
  • Buck Bedding Areas Buck bedding areas are incredibly productive spots throughout the early season, pre-rut, and late season.
    Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The lineup is an incredibly solid mix of Latin music styles, ranging from regional Mexican to various kinds of pop.
    Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
  • The winning combination of range and affordability is truly extraordinary for a fully electric crossover of this caliber, and Chevy’s Equinox has now overtaken Cadillac’s Lyriq as GM’s top-selling EV.
    Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • In an emergency stop, the Vanquish’s Brembo carbon ceramic brakes halt progress from 100 kph (62 mph) in less than 30 meters (98.4 feet), a common European benchmark for truly superlative braking.
    Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near very

Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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