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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
2
as in mere
being this and no more
the very thought of having to go through that again is scary
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions
the very nerve of that woman—telling me how to raise my own children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Kevin Giraud, Variety, 7 June 2025
King Charles is very sick, and there are reports that succession plans are already underway.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 7 June 2025
Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
That is the very definition, the very definition of politicizing intelligence.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for very
Adverb
The film’s topic is very relevant today, as minorities all over the world face threats of harassment and sometimes their very extermination.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 7 June 2025
King Charles is very sick, and there are reports that succession plans are already underway.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 7 June 2025
Adjective
The attempt to silence is a way of cutting off connection with others, thus cutting off the very possibility of acknowledgment.
—Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
That is the very definition, the very definition of politicizing intelligence.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
-
City’s academy has been extremely productive in recent years, with Phil Foden the shining light, but Rico Lewis, James McAtee, Oscar Bobb and O’Reilly are all now established squad players.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
-
Stef Stef is extremely mature and grounded in her investigation of the Goon Docks.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Adverb
-
No team besides the Pittsburgh Pirates is really out of the NL Central race, but the Cubs have the opportunity to really run away with it.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
-
Could iPhones really cost $3,500? President Donald Trump is threatening a tariff of at least 25% on Apple if iPhones are not manufactured or built in the United States.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
That same year, the FDA further eased several conditions with respect to the prescribing and sale of mifepristone.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
That same year, Milk was assassinated alongside Mayor George Moscone at City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
This is hardly surprising, as medical training catapults ordinary people into the extraordinary, where life-or-death stakes are no mere metaphors.—
Danielle Ofri,
New Yorker,
7 June 2025
-
Los Angeles is now a mere 12 months away from serving as primary host of the World Cup soccer championships, and three years away from taking the world stage as host of both the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
JoJo Siwa has been on a real rollercoaster ride over the past month.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
3 June 2025
-
That’s the real opportunity for the industry today.—
Shahar Man,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Better yet, this was all relatively simple to accomplish and extremely user intuitive.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
-
Serving clients around the globe, ACE operates with a simple but powerful mission: to help individuals and companies navigate aircraft transactions with confidence, clarity, and efficiency.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Adverb
-
Huang held on, and did so through incredibly difficult stretches that included him fighting to keep his job.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
Digital search features on platforms like Google aggregate from all posts available, so when Fosgate’s tweets first got popular, the biggest and most available information about her was both transphobic and incredibly cruel.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
Adverb
-
Viewers will now have to wonder whether Ellie truly dies (a plausible scenario, given the current body count), and the wait could last up to two years given the previous gap between seasons.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2025
-
But is tinned fish’s resurgence truly a recession indicator?—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share