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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
So Harrison was very upset about it. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025 Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
This very patience and intentionality is clearly reflected in every last one of Malin’s MacKenzie-Childs offerings. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025 The very possibility of freedom was freedom itself. Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • The last six decades or so have been an extremely subtle hint, and the rest of us have cracked the code.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • There was an aspect to the story that really hit my heart hard in Bruno Lacombe’s radical philosophy, which posits that modern humans have lost their essential connection to the primal elements of existence.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While 2022 saw the opening or reactivation of 40 coal mines, 151 mines closed or were nonoperational that same year, an 18% decline from the year before.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Santa Maria Novella fragrances embody an ethereal, minimalist luxury where every note feels intentional, and that same refined simplicity carries through to their classic candles.
    Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Upon further review, Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson could be seen taunting the crowd as the play started, mere seconds before Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels completed the 52-yard touchdown to get his team the win.
    Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • But dismissing the rise in antisemitism as mere policing of speech about Israel is disingenuous and dangerous.
    Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ironically, the football game itself is just a backdrop, the real experience lies beyond the field.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
  • There was a chill in the air, but for Liverpool’s midfielder, newly arrived from Spain, the real culture shock was what happened on the pitch.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Monochromatic Raven loves to stick to a simple, serene palette by combining a variety of white tulips with different bloom times.
    Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
  • This Madewell version channels that effortless, neutral polish Kitts described—simple, structured, and endlessly versatile.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • With someone like Charles, whose world is incredibly high-pressure and constantly moving — and a big thing is trust.
    Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • But playing shortstop in the big leagues at an elite level is incredibly difficult.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • However, Fuller, Carr and the actors are skilled in truly immersing the audience within the Murdaugh ecocosystem, highlighting the men in particular, who used their privilege and wealth to gain dominance over this South Carolina community for generations.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
  • To truly understand Sly Stone, or Marvin Gaye or Prince or Miles Davis or John Coltrane, is to know that to whom much is given, much is required.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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