Choosing a many synonym is partly about size and partly about grammar: numerous is formal, a lot of and plenty of are relaxed, countless is dramatic, and several is actually smaller than many. All of them go with plural nouns you can count, such as books, people and ideas.
Looking for another word for many in a specific sentence? This guide sorts each option by how big a number it suggests, shows which ones sit before a noun and which can stand alone, and flags swaps that break a sentence. If your noun is uncountable, like water or advice, jump to the a lot synonyms page instead.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
numerous, a lot of, plenty of, countless, variousPart of speech
Determiner, adjective, pronounMost formal
numerous, a great many, myriadMost casual
loads of, tons of, a bunch ofBiggest number
countless, innumerable, untoldAntonyms
few, hardly any, not manyWatch out
Many is for countable nouns. Use much or a great deal of for uncountable ones.
The many synonym list, sorted by size
| How many | Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| More than a couple | several, a number of, a fair number of | Several guests left early. |
| A good amount | quite a few, plenty of, lots of | Plenty of seats are still free. |
| A large number | numerous, a great many, scores of | Numerous studies support the idea. |
| Too many to count | countless, innumerable, untold, myriad | Countless stars filled the desert sky. |
| Many kinds | various, assorted, a range of | The shop sells assorted teas. |
From several to countless
The chips grow from left to right. Several usually means more than two and fewer than many, so it is a step down, not a straight swap. Quite a few sounds casual and suggests more than you might expect. Lots of is friendly and roomy, the everyday way to say a big number. Numerous is the plain formal choice. Countless is an exaggeration in most uses, which is fine in a story and risky in a lab report.
Grammar notes learners ask about
Before a noun or after it: numerous, countless and various normally sit before the noun. Placing them after a verb, as in the problems were countless, is correct but sounds literary. Many a is old fashioned and takes a singular noun: many a sailor has told this tale.
Standing alone: many can be a pronoun, as in many agree. Swaps that also work alone are lots, plenty and a good number: plenty agree.
With of: lots of, plenty of, a number of and a lot of need of. Numerous and several do not: write numerous reasons, never numerous of reasons. With the and a noun, use many of: many of the students.
A number of takes a plural verb: a number of people are waiting. The number of takes a singular verb: the number of people is rising.
Real sentences with a better word
- Many people think so becomes plenty of people think so in a blog or a great many people think so in a speech.
- There are many reasons becomes there are numerous reasons.
- We tried many times becomes we tried countless times when you want to stress frustration.
- The museum has many kinds of art becomes the museum has various kinds of art.
- Many of my friends becomes quite a few of my friends in conversation.
Essay draft: "Many experts agree, and many studies show, that many children sleep too little." Revised: "Experts widely agree, and numerous studies show, that a large share of children sleep too little." Three repeats become three precise phrases.
Formal writing and relaxed talk
In essays and reports, prefer numerous, a large number of, a wide range of and, when you have data, a figure: sixty percent of respondents. Writers who need this register can browse essay and academic words next.
In chat, loads of, tons of and a bunch of sound friendly. They are fine in texts but look careless in a cover letter.
Opposites of many
Few is the direct opposite and sounds slightly negative: few people came. A few is positive: a few people came, which was nice. Hardly any and not many are everyday choices, and scarce works after a verb: jobs were scarce.
- Only a handful of tickets remain.
- Hardly any shops were open on the holiday.
Frequently asked questions
Which formal synonym for many works in essays?
Numerous is the standard formal swap. A great many and a large number of also work in speeches and reports.
Is several the same as many?
No. Several usually means a small number above two, such as three to six. Many suggests a larger amount.
Can I use a lot of instead of many?
Yes, in everyday English. A lot of works with countable and uncountable nouns, but it can sound loose in formal essays.
Do I say many or much?
Use many with countable plurals like cars and ideas. Use much with uncountable nouns like time, money and advice.
Antonym of many?
Few is the main antonym. A few, not many and hardly any are softer and more common in speech.
Is myriad a noun or an adjective?
Both are accepted today. You can write myriad options or a myriad of options, though some style guides prefer the first.