A very synonym can be another booster like extremely, really, highly, truly or incredibly, but often the better move is to drop very and pick a stronger adjective: very tired becomes exhausted.
This page does both jobs. First you get another word for very sorted by tone, from chatty to formal. Then a swap table turns common very phrases into single words. Last comes the adjective sense, as in the very moment, which needs completely different replacements.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
extremely, really, highly, trulyPart of speech
Adverb (also an adjective: the very end)Most formal
exceedingly, decidedly, eminentlyMost casual
so, super, crazyStrongest
exceptionally, extraordinarilyAntonyms
slightly, barely, somewhatWatch out
Highly fits only some adjectives: highly likely, highly skilled, but not highly tall.
Booster words by tone
Chatty: so, super, really, crazy (as in crazy busy). These are fine in texts and speech, weak in essays.
Neutral: extremely, highly, truly, particularly, remarkably. They work in most emails and reports.
Formal: exceedingly, decidedly, eminently, profoundly. Eminently suits qualities like sensible or qualified. Profoundly suits feelings and changes: profoundly moved, profoundly different.
Fairly to exceptionally: reading the scale
The chip row goes mild to strong. Fairly sits below very. Quite is tricky: in American English it is close to very, but in British English it often means only fairly. Really is about level with very. Extremely climbs a clear notch higher, and exceptionally says it stands out from everything else.
See the really synonyms and incredibly synonyms pages for those words on their own.
Very synonym swaps: one strong word
| Instead of | Try | Note |
|---|---|---|
| very tired | exhausted, drained | Drained adds emotional fatigue. |
| very big | huge, enormous, vast | Vast suits space and amounts. |
| very good | excellent, superb | More on the very good synonyms page. |
| very bad | terrible, awful, dreadful | Dreadful sounds a touch British. |
| very happy | delighted, thrilled, overjoyed | Thrilled is the most excited. |
| very small | tiny, minute | Minute is pronounced my newt. |
| very important | crucial, vital, essential | Vital suggests life or survival. |
| very hungry | starving, ravenous | Starving is the casual one. |
Very in real sentences, rewritten
- The exam was very hard becomes the exam was brutal in speech, or exceptionally demanding in a report.
- She is very smart becomes she is brilliant.
- We are very grateful becomes we are deeply grateful.
- It is very likely to rain becomes it is highly likely to rain.
- The room was very clean becomes the room was spotless.
A thank-you email: "Your help was very very useful." Doubling the booster weakens it. Try: "Your help made a real difference, and I am truly grateful."
The adjective very: exact or mere
Before a noun, very means something else. The very spot where we met means the exact spot. The very idea scares me means the mere idea. At the very end means right at the end. Swap with exact, precise, actual or mere, never with extremely.
Softer words and common slips
When you want less force, the opposites are slightly, somewhat, a little, mildly, and in negative lines barely or hardly.
Do not put any booster before absolute words such as unique, perfect or essential. Something is unique or it is not. Also avoid very before words that already carry strength, like very furious.
Boosters and connectors live together on this linking words list.
Frequently asked questions
Very keeps showing up in my essay. How do I cut it?
Use a stronger adjective first: exhausted, crucial, enormous. If you need a booster, extremely, highly and particularly read well in formal work.
Very sounds childish in formal work. What replaces it?
Exceedingly, decidedly and eminently are formal. Highly is formal and common, but only with certain adjectives.
Which very synonym sounds relaxed and chatty?
So, super and really are the everyday choices. Crazy as a booster is slang and best kept for friends.
Is quite a synonym for very?
In American English, mostly yes. In British English, quite often means fairly, so it can sound weaker than you intend.
Which words do the opposite of very?
Slightly, somewhat and a little are the usual opposites. Barely and hardly work in sentences about a small amount.
Why do teachers say to avoid very?
Because one precise word usually does the job better. Starving says more than very hungry and uses fewer words.