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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
In the video, the SipMARGS founder and her partner DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy can be seen in the Dancing with the Stars rehearsal room, attempting what appears to be a very technical, two-person cartwheel. Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 Smith, to be clear, didn’t do much of anything, just like the other KC backs, though Kareem Hunt is very effective in short yardage. Michael Salfino, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
But for Almasque, the very nature of this means the tech may not be defensible. Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025 Around the same time, Jared’s family immigrated from South Africa to that very town. Peter White, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • Some genres may be extremely violent and gory, so parents may want to consider supervising their children's viewing of films or avoid them altogether.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Grain bins and silos can be extremely deadly if people get trapped inside.
    Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • This Melissa & Doug Chef Dress-Up Set includes everything your budding culinary star needs to really dress the part, including a machine-washable chef's coat with name tag, toque, and oven mitt, along with wooden spoons and measuring spoons.
    Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Then something really beautiful happens.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That same area has already cost the team some points this year, though the Jayhawks (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) have scored 30-plus in each of their two losses.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
  • That same source indicated the two had become more like roommates the last few months, instead of husband and wife, blaming distance and their busy schedules.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But the differences between those chips and the new X2 line are far more significant than mere core count.
    Wendy Sheehan Donnell, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Plus, Jude Law brings his movie star charisma as the swaggering pirate captain Jod Na Nawood, who helps the kids find their way back home (for reasons far from mere goodwill).
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Will his shooting and floater game give enough offensive jolt to add some real spacing around a roster that, even with Kevin Durant, seems notably deficient in terms of spacing?
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Come for some of the best actresses of our time as power-hungry witches; stay for Stevie Nicks' cameo as a real one.
    James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Jared Jewelers Bulova Phantom Watch A watch is both practical and fashionable, and this style adds a touch of sparkle to simple outfits.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Each year, as the temperature rises, the town’s regular population of around 300 swells with thousands of kids soaking up the simple pleasures of the great outdoors.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • At the time, the fields of primatology, ethology, anthropology, and all of science were incredibly male-dominated.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • And there was Mahab Ghodss, an incredibly powerful and opaque consulting firm run by regime insiders, which drafted the studies for dam projects and lobbied for approval.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Continuity errors like this remind us that there are truly artists at work behind the scenes.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The most terrifying part, however, will truly leave you gagging.
    Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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