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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

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
The state of the union is … divided A slim majority of respondents — 53% — said the state of the union is either not very strong or not strong at all. Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025 However, the paperwork this requires can lead to lots of working people getting kicked out of the program and is very costly to implement. Nicole Huberfeld, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
In fact, a case was winding its way through the judiciary on this very topic at the time. Rebecca Brenner Graham / Made By History, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025 Decision-makers have an opportunity to ensure that the very tools designed to drive revenue don’t end up stifling creativity. Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • And in a heartwarming turn of events, Wayans is extremely supportive of his child.
    Abby Monteil, Them, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The mesh fabric didn't cover as much as her extremely long, brown hair—a departure from the famous painting—which was stuffed into the dress and very deliberately situated for a wee bit of modesty.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • Thankfully, all the community has been really supportive.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Brown, Marsden, Nicholson and the rest of the cast really nail it, and the writing is solid throughout.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Four of Jones’ children, Rashida, Martina, Quincy III, and Kenya accepted an honorary Lifetime Achievement Award for their father that same month at the Governor’s Awards.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • That same month, the council majority also considered a proposal to privatize the library.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • By now, audiences have learned that mere hours past the seven-day deadline has crippling physical effects on Elisabeth's body, so when Sue is forced to switch bodies after several months, Elisabeth emerges unrecognizable.
    Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Now imagine how much more effective marketers may be at pitching to prospects—and their downstream audiences when sales conversations leap from mere thoughts to reality.
    Michael Ashley, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Consider the real case of an elderly couple, both in their late 80s.
    Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent is a taut re-creation of a real event that took place during the Bosnian War, which has unfortunate parallels to our own trajectory.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • This fund is the simplest way to play the inevitable rise in lithium prices.
    Brett Owens, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Prioritizing fitness amid a busy travel schedule, the former Radio City Rockette and The Talk host says her outlook is simple.
    Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • Of course, she felt vindicated, but learning what had been growing inside her body left her feeling incredibly overwhelmed.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Even if the projection is off by a wide margin, the cost to run a furnace in 2045 is going to be incredibly high compared with a heat pump.
    Ben Roush, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • Reddit, by contrast, offers truly specialized knowledge for every need.
    Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Most dresses are not truly white, but a few shades darker in colors like eggshell, diamond white, or natural.
    BestReviews, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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