Happy Monday!! Continuing our little series of strengthening our verbs and adjectives, I wanted to talk about an adverb that I’m VERY guilty of over-using. Ha, see what I did there? Using the word “very” can be vague when placed in front of a word such as “good” or “interesting” or “important” and can often make your writing sound boring and repetitive.
Let’s start with the basics. Some synonyms you could use instead of very include:
- Exceedingly
- Tremendously
- Immensely
- Vastly
But why add on an adverb when you can just use a stronger adjective? Here are some options you can consider! To be honest, this list started at 100, and moved up to 205, and now I’m truthfully couldn’t tell you what number we’re at now because I kept adding more and more words to each category. But the more the merrier! I hope you found this helpful š
| INSTEAD OF: | SAY: | INSTEAD OF: | SAY: |
| very afraid | terrified, fearful, petrified, frightened, alarmed | very boring | dull, monotonous, repetitious |
| very bad | atrocious, awful, regrettable, unsatisfactory | very nice | kind, pleasant, enjoyable |
| very big | immense, enormous, sizeable, considerable | very small | diminutive, little, miniature |
| very hard | difficult, unyielding, impenetrable | very necessary | essential |
| very angry | furious, irate, vexed, exasperated, aggrieved, irked, displeased, cross | very noisy | deafening, rowdy, clamorous |
| very beautiful | exquisite, alluring, lovely, charming, gorgeous | very dry | parched, withered |
| very fast | quick, swift, rapid, nimble | very cold | freezing, bitter |
| very lively | animated, energetic, enthusiastic | very clever | brilliant, intelligent |
| very lazy | indolent, sluggish, lethargic | very stupid | idiotic, dull-witted |
| very accurate | exact, precise, faultless, detailed | very sad | sorrowful, distraught |
| very often | frequently, repeatedly | very ugly | hideous |
| very smelly | pungent, putrid, malodorous | very wicked | villainous, immoral |
| very smooth | sleek, polished | very quiet | silent, hushed, noiseless, soundless |
| very willing | eager, inclined, enthusiastic | very clean | spotless, pristine, unblemished |
| very long-term | enduring, abiding, continuing | very happy | ecstatic, content, cheerful, joyful, untroubled |
| very nervous | apprehensive, skittish, timid | very important | crucial |
| very strong | unyielding, powerful, impenetrable | very simple | basic, straightforward, effortless |
| very tasty | delicious, palatable, delectable | very powerful | compelling |
| very careful | cautious, heedful, watchful, vigilant, wary, guarded | very risky | perilous, hazardous, dangerous |
| very bright | luminous, brilliant, beaming, blazing | very short | brief, momentary, temporary, short-lived |
| very valuable | precious | very worried | distressed, disturbed, anxious, concerned |
| very neat | immaculate, tidy, orderly, well kept | very smart | intelligent, bright, brilliant, sharp-witted |
| very creative | innovative, ingenious | very eager | keen |
| very evil | wicked, immoral | very detailed | meticulous |
| very good | excellent, satisfactory, adequate | very confused | perplexed, bewildered |
| very light | luminous, bright | very crowded | bustling, cramped |
| very tired | exhausted, fatigued, drained | very simple | basic |
| very rich | wealthy, affluent | very tall | towering, colossal, lanky |
| very roomy | spacious, commodious, sizeable | very different | disparate, contrasting |
| very empty | desolate, vacant, unoccupied | very painful | excruciating, agonizing, gut-wrenching |
| very common | usual, ordinary, customary, habitual, familiar | very shiny | gleaming, beaming, glowing |
| very serious | grave, stern, urgent | very wise | sage, sagacious |
| very calm | serene, tranquil | very rainy | pouring, inclement |
| very glad | pleased, happy, delighted | very exciting | exhilarating |
| very cute | adorable, endearing, charming | very cheap | stingy |
| very colorful | vibrant, brilliant, radiant | very competitive | cutthroat, ruthless, fierce |
| very shy | timid, diffident, sheepish, reserved | very loud | deafening, blaring |
| very poor | destitute | very old | ancient |
| very dear | cherished | very slow | sluggish |
| very dull | tedious, boring, uninteresting, tiresome | very sharp | keen, honed, serrated |
| very cool | amazing, astonishing, breathtaking, mind-blowing | very sleepy | lethargic, drowsy, languorous |
| very thin | lanky, lean, scrawny, gaunt | very loved | besotted, affectionate, infatuated, beloved |