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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 lid’s loop handle is very sturdy and moves up or down, which our parent tester liked for quick grabs. Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 19 June 2025 And at the very top, 15 centibillionaires, less than 1% of the group, boast a combined net worth of $2.4 trillion. Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 19 June 2025
Adjective
In this way, the very spirit of Blackness is art — a stirring beyond language. Evan Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025 His elastic counter-melodic approach to the bass redefined the role of the instrument in jazz and helped Evans reshape the very concept of the piano trio. Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • The entire bet was on a big wing shot creator who was extremely young.
    Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • Now the men in pink can make a shock escape from this extremely tight group.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Adverb
  • Jaws is really about just you and that Fear That Eats You.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 June 2025
  • Take out the magic of enjoying it at the Happiest Place on Earth, and those hard, sorbet-like cups really missed the mark for many Disney fans.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • During the second inning, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos lifted a sinking line drive into right field, conjuring Espada’s memories of a far more consequential fly ball hit to that same spot.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife said Tim was found dead that same day, and Esther was found dead the next day on Wednesday, June 4.
    Abigail Adams, People.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Israel’s incursion into southern Lebanon has revealed a military outpost about a mere 300 yards north of the border with the Jewish state that is filled with explosives and mines, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025
  • In 1945, the mere prospect of an Israeli state inspired a boycott by every Arab one, in the name of the Palestinians.
    Karl Vick, Time, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Jordan Campbell: What Filipe Luis has created at Flamengo is a real testament to what having a clear coaching vision can do.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • The person behind the schoolboy video, which defended Duterte, claimed to the news agency that the views shared were collected from real students.
    Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • But the system isn’t as simple as the governor suggests.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
  • While to some these screen-free devices may seem like a return to the early, simpler days of fitness trackers, Werring says the public is a bit more savvy than the step-counting obsessives of the 2010s.
    Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Adverb
  • Both Marlins righties are incredibly talented and expected to be available at the trade deadline.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
  • Coming at an incredibly sensitive time and with some employees revolting over its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the last thing the corporation’s bosses need is to be accused of platforming bands accused of terrorist sympathy.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 June 2025
Adverb
  • When accountability for the customer is unclear and everyone in the C-suite is responsible for growth, often no one truly is.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 20 June 2025
  • While the cars are moving in two dimensions to the fighter jets’ three, Kosinski makes the races feel truly physical—not just on the turns and straights, but in the frenetic pit stops and in the viewing suites stuffed with sheikhs and tech ghouls.
    Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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