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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 of very in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
Overall, the report found that consumers are engaging in holiday shopping with a very methodical approach this year. Alexandra Pastore, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024 These pieces focus on nearly opposite ends of the music world but reach the same conclusion: the industry is undergoing a rapid transformation and only a very few people are keeping up. Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
A week from today the first Election Night results will be just hours away, but tonight Kamala Harris plans to double down on her critique of and contempt for Donald Trump in the very place where the former president riled up the MAGA mob to attack the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2024 Anything that could be construed as a tacit defense of such behavior hurts the very people Johnson has sworn to protect. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for very 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'very.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near very

Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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