The word ‘very’ is an adverb of degree that is helpful as an intensifier for adjectives and adverbs, but your English can become repetitive if you use ‘very’ too much.
Here we will look at some synonyms for ‘very’ as well as for common phrases like ‘very good’, ‘very happy’, ‘very interesting’, and so on. We also have some tips for avoiding overuse of ‘very’ and choosing an appropriate word to replace it.
We hope this synonyms guide becomes a helpful reference tool whenever you are searching for another word for ‘very’.
Synonyms for ‘very’ as an adverb
Here are some other words to use instead of ‘very’ as an adverb, to modify an adjective or another adverb:
- Absolutely
- Acutely
- Altogether
- Amazingly
- Awfully (informal)
- Decidedly
- Deeply
- Eminently
- Especially
- Ever so
- Exceedingly
- Exceptionally
- Excessively
- Extraordinarily
- Genuinely
- Greatly
- Highly
- Immensely
- Insanely (informal)
- Jolly (British)
- Most
- Noticeably
- Oh-so (informal)
- Overly
- Particularly
- Pretty (informal)
- Profoundly
- Really
- Remarkably
- Seriously (informal)
- So (informal)
- Super (informal)
- Surpassingly
- Surprisingly
- Terribly
- Thoroughly
- Totally
- Truly
- Ultra (informal)
- Uncommonly
- Unusually
- Well (British slang)
- Wonderfully
Although these are often better words for ‘very’ because they are more descriptive, do be aware that not all of these words work in every context.
For example, only use ‘surprisingly’ as a synonym for ‘very’ if the thing you are describing is actually surprising. The same goes for ‘wonderfully’, ‘terribly’, ‘profoundly’, and so on.
Here are some examples to illustrate this point:
- The bride looked surprisingly beautiful. (Inappropriate – suggests you were not expecting her to look beautiful)
- The bride looked exceptionally beautiful. (More appropriate – amplifies her beauty)
- These flowers have bloomed surprisingly early. (Appropriate – showing surprise at how early the flowers have bloomed)
- I was wonderfully troubled by the sad news. (Inappropriate – ‘wonderfully’ has a positive meaning)
- I was terribly troubled by the sad news. (Appropriate)
- I was greatly troubled by the sad news. (Appropriate)
Can you use ‘very’ to modify verbs?
No, you cannot use ‘very’ to modify a verb, and this is a common mistake that people make when learning English. The best word to use instead of ‘very’ when modifying a verb is ‘really’, as it fits in any context.
- I very like playing tennis. (Incorrect)
- I really like playing tennis. (Correct)
- I very want to go to the UK. (Incorrect)
- I really want to go to the UK. (Correct)
Other adverbs from the list above that can sometimes modify verbs include: absolutely, especially, genuinely, particularly, and seriously.
Other words for ‘very’: strong adjectives
‘Very’ cannot be used to modify every adjective in the English language. This is because some adjectives already have a strong meaning and cannot be further intensified in this way. These are called ‘strong adjectives’.
For instance, ‘excellent’ means ‘very good’, so we cannot say ‘very excellent’. ‘Ecstatic’ means ‘very happy’ so we cannot say ‘very ecstatic’.
Below you can find examples of strong adjectives to replace ‘very’ plus another adjective. These will help vary your vocabulary even more.
Another word for ‘very good’
- Great
- Excellent
- Fantastic
- Wonderful
- Brilliant
- Amazing
- Awesome (informal)
- Superb
- Tremendous
- Marvellous
Some good idioms like ‘just the ticket’ and ‘good as gold’ could also be helpful.
Another word for ‘very bad’
- Awful
- Terrible
- Dreadful
- Shocking
- Horrible
- Horrendous
- Catastrophic
- Appalling
- Pathetic
- Pitiful
- Unspeakable
- Disgusting
There are also some idioms about bad things happening which may help describe these situations.
Another word for ‘very special’
- Exceptional
- Significant
- Momentous
- Important
- Noteworthy
- Rare
- Uncommon
- Unique
- Valuable
- Treasured
Another word for ‘very happy’ or ‘very pleased’
- Elated
- Ecstatic
- Thrilled
- Joyous
- Delighted
- Thrilled
- Jubilant
- Overjoyed
You can also use some happy idioms like ‘over the moon’ and ‘on cloud nine’ to describe a strong feeling of happiness.
Another word for ‘very sad’
- Melancholy
- Miserable
- Forlorn
- Depressed
- Distressed
- Wretched
- Dismal
- Desolate
- Dejected
- Despondent
- Downcast
- Sorrowful
- Crestfallen
- Woebegone
- Tragic
Discover some sadness idioms for more ways to describe these feelings or situations.
Another word for ‘very important’
- Significant
- Valuable
- Crucial
- Vital
- Urgent
- Essential
- Momentous
- Imperative
- Esteemed
Another word for ‘very busy’
- Hectic
- Frantic
- Packed
- Jammed
- Swarming
- Teeming
- Occupied
- Engrossed
- Jam-packed (informal)
Another word for ‘very beautiful’
- Stunning
- Exquisite
- Gorgeous
- Radiant
- Breathtaking
- Heavenly
- Splendid
- Dazzling
Find more expressions to describe beauty here, including ‘dressed to kill’ and ‘a million dollars’.
Another word for ‘very big’ or ‘very large’
- Huge
- Enormous
- Massive
- Ginormous (informal)
- Giant
- Gigantic
- Humungous (informal)
- Vast
- Immense
- Colossal
- Jumbo (informal)
Another word for ‘very small’ or ‘very little’
- Tiny
- Minuscule
- Microscopic
- Minute
- Mini (informal)
- Teeny (informal)
- Teeny-tiny (informal)
- Teeny-weeny (informal)
- Negligible
Another word for ‘very interesting’
- Gripping
- Intriguing
- Fascinating
- Captivating
- Scintillating
- Enthralling
- Absorbing
- Compelling
- Engrossing
- Engaging
You’ll notice that a lot of these adjectives end in -ing and -ed. Make sure you know the difference between -ed and -ing adjectives when using them.
Another word for ‘very boring’
- Dreary
- Dull
- Tedious
- Mind-numbing
- Vapid
- Monotonous
- Insipid
- Humdrum
Another word for ‘very exciting’
- Sensational
- Thrilling
- Stimulating
- Dramatic
- Exhilarating
- Inspiring
- Electrifying
- Vitalizing
- Energizing
Learn some idioms about excitement here if you wish to add to this vocabulary.
Another word for ‘very tiring’
- Exhausting
- Draining
- Fatiguing
- Strenuous
- Arduous
- Wearing
- Wearying
- Demanding
- Laborious
- Taxing
- Backbreaking
Another word for ‘very funny’ or ‘very amusing’
- Hilarious
- Side-splitting
- Ridiculous
- Absurd
- Hysterical
- Comical
Expand your vocabulary in this area with some funny idioms too!
Another word for ‘very scary’ or ‘very frightening’
- Terrifying
- Petrifying
- Alarming
- Horrifying
- Hair-raising
- Chilling
- Unnerving
Yes, there are also some scary idioms you can use in English, like ‘send shivers down your spine’.
Note that although we cannot use ‘very’ to modify these strong adjectives, we can use some of the ‘very’ synonyms mentioned earlier, such as: absolutely, thoroughly, pretty, and totally.
We’d also recommend you double-check the meaning of any new words in a dictionary before using them, since many of the words listed here have multiple meanings and their synonyms may not be interchangeable.
Avoiding overuse of ‘very’
It’s easy to use ‘very’ too much when you’re describing something. Take this example:
My city is very big. There are lots of shops and some very good restaurants. I like hanging out in the park, which is very nice because it has a river running through it.
That’s three uses of ‘very’ in a relatively short description. Let’s try using some of the other words for ‘very’ that we’ve covered here, to make the text more descriptive and less repetitive:
My city is huge. There are lots of shops and some excellent restaurants. I like hanging out in the park, which is beautiful because it has a river running through it.
‘Nice’ suffers from a similar problem with overuse in English, but you can find some synonyms for nice here to help with this.
Now that you have plenty of ‘very’ synonyms in your vocabulary, be intentional about using them next time you are describing something.
