1
as in extremely
to a great degree
that was a very brave thing to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in really
in actual fact
the very same thing happened to me
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1
as in same
being one and not another
we stayed in the very hotel my parents stayed in for their honeymoon
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2
as in mere
being this and no more
the very thought of having to go through that again is scary
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3
as in real
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
tourism is the very lifeblood of this community—the town would surely die without it
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4
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions
the very nerve of that woman—telling me how to raise my own children
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of very
Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Sources even say that his partner, Britney Theriot, allegedly isn’t very happy about it.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Jan. 2026
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Maduro’s capture is a seismic reversal of fortune for Cuba’s communist-run government, which for decades has relied on massive aid packages from its oil-rich South American ally for the island’s very survival.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for very
Adverb
Killer whales also have very sensitive skin and may rub their bellies on the rocks simply for enjoyment, the same way a human might enjoy a massage at the spa, the expedition company added.
—Adjective
Dokoupil, too, has spoken about helping viewers make up their own minds, with his CBS Evening News dedicating one of its five core principles to that very issue.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
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The first indicator is oftentimes a lack of water flow from faucets when the weather is extremely cold.—
-
Skeeter, 36, serves as the Hornets’ player development coach and is also the primary person who works extremely closely with star guard LaMelo Ball.—
Adverb
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So there's really no choice but for the four major conference commissioners to compile a set of rules and guidelines that make at least a marginal bit of sense.—
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So getting through that year was really difficult.—
Adjective
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Anyone who purchases a rodeo ticket also gains same-day access to the Stock Show grounds.—
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Head to that same site to peruse our full calendar of events.—
Adjective
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That’s the difference between having a mere below-average QB versus an awful one tied to your receiver.—
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This process takes a mere 10 minutes, yet the result is a manicure that has lasted me up to 20 days.—
Adjective
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The defense bent a lot and didn’t break often but didn’t have any real signature plays.—
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While some calas are accessible by car, others can only be reached by a short hike—that’s where visitors will find the real magic and privacy.—
Adjective
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This simple taupe geometric style peel-and-stick wallpaper is affordable, easy to apply, and looks gorgeous without being too bold or loud.—
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The simple addition of zipper detailing adds a preppy energy to the top.—
Adverb
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The pork was incredibly tender and juicy, with a bold but balanced mix of spices that didn’t overpower each other.—
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These kind of creative environments are so incredibly inspiring to me.—
Adverb
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Sales are truly rare here, so take advantage of discounts up to a whopping 70 percent off.—
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Lord Katsushige, the previous head of the Nabeshima domain, even encouraged the experience to truly understand how to be of service.—
Cite this Entry
“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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