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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
That is a guy with very intense emotions. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025 For us, this is very important. Robert Birsel shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
In the next few years, the very process of asking questions will itself be transformed by AI and advanced collaboration tools. David Henkin, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Ni stayed active until the very end, even recording a podcast with Jeff during hospice. Ciara McCarthy 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • Or consider the extremely rapid development of vaccines during the recent COVID pandemic.
    Alan Lightman September 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Kirk has risen in popularity over the years for his extremely polarizing takes, which resulted in a heavy split among reactions to his passing.
    Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The house is haunted by a family of farmers that lived and died on the land, murdered horribly by the patriarch of the family, but really, the problem is the demon that controls the mirror and its dark reflections.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Panthers should probably promote practice-squad linebacker Krys Barnes in the coming weeks as insurance for Trevin Wallace, who was a major liability in Week 1 after a really strong summer.
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Proposition 50 would lock that same culture into our election maps, giving politicians the power to protect themselves and their allies instead of voters.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
  • His days as a starting pitcher are gone — save for a unique scenario Wednesday, when he’ll be called into action — but that same modicum of joy remains.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hess talked about chess with a sense of gravity that went beyond interest or mere passion; an elegant move or complex position would light him up.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This uncanny coincidence — that the Earth’s radiation lines up with the energies of carbon dioxide’s mixed vibrational/rotational quantum state — is how this tiny trace of molecules, mere flecks in the air, completely dominates our climate.
    Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Meeting these expectations has put real strain on automotive retail, challenging dealers to know when to rely on intelligent tools—and when to step in with human expertise.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The final debut group will be selected through real-time global voting during the live broadcast.
    Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The inspiration The Copleys wanted a low-water garden that would be simple to care for.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • However, these fluctuations are incredibly important, from a cosmic perspective.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Now, glasses are for everyone and have become incredibly versatile.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • There have been many farewells for Dockery across her time doing Downton, but reading the new film’s script for the first time, the sense of finality truly hit.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials, and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
    Giana Levy, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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