Stop Using "Very": 50+ Powerful Alternatives

Upgrade Your Vocabulary Instantly

Why Avoid "Very"?

  • Weak writing: "Very" is a lazy intensifier that adds nothing specific
  • Better alternative: Replace "very + adjective" with a single powerful word
  • Pro tip: Mark Twain said, "Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very'—your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."

😊 Positive Emotions & States

❌ Weak:

"I'm very happy about the news."

✓ Strong:

"I'm thrilled / ecstatic / elated / overjoyed about the news."

❌ Weak:

"She was very excited to start."

✓ Strong:

"She was exhilarated / eager / enthusiastic to start."

❌ Weak:

"The team was very proud of their work."

✓ Strong:

"The team was triumphant / beaming / gratified by their work."

😢 Negative Emotions & States

❌ Weak:

"He was very sad after the loss."

✓ Strong:

"He was devastated / heartbroken / grief-stricken after the loss."

❌ Weak:

"I'm very tired today."

✓ Strong:

"I'm exhausted / drained / fatigued today."

❌ Weak:

"She was very angry at the decision."

✓ Strong:

"She was furious / livid / outraged at the decision."

❌ Weak:

"The news was very scary."

✓ Strong:

"The news was terrifying / alarming / chilling."

📏 Size, Quantity & Degree

❌ Weak:

"It was a very big house."

✓ Strong:

"It was a massive / enormous / colossal / immense house."

❌ Weak:

"The apartment was very small."

✓ Strong:

"The apartment was tiny / cramped / compact / minuscule."

❌ Weak:

"There were very many people at the event."

✓ Strong:

"There were countless / numerous / a multitude of people at the event."

💼 Professional Writing

❌ Weak:

"This is a very important matter."

✓ Strong:

"This is a crucial / vital / critical / essential matter."

❌ Weak:

"The report was very good."

✓ Strong:

"The report was excellent / outstanding / superb / exceptional."

❌ Weak:

"The results were very bad."

✓ Strong:

"The results were terrible / dismal / abysmal / dreadful."

❌ Weak:

"We need to act very fast."

✓ Strong:

"We need to act immediately / swiftly / promptly / urgently."

📋 Quick Reference List

Instead of... Use...
very afraid terrified, petrified
very beautiful gorgeous, stunning
very boring tedious, monotonous
very clean spotless, immaculate
very cold freezing, frigid
very confused baffled, perplexed
very creative innovative, ingenious
very dirty filthy, grimy
very easy effortless, simple
very hard challenging, demanding
very hot scorching, sweltering
very hungry ravenous, famished
very interesting fascinating, captivating
very loud deafening, thunderous
very old ancient, antique
very perfect flawless, impeccable
very poor destitute, impoverished
very quiet silent, hushed
very rich wealthy, affluent
very smart brilliant, intelligent
very strong powerful, mighty
very stupid foolish, idiotic
very sure certain, confident
very ugly hideous, grotesque
very worried anxious, distressed

Quick Tips

💡 The Delete Test

Read your sentence without "very." If it still makes sense, delete it. "She was [very] happy" → "She was happy" works fine.

✅ Use a Thesaurus

Keep a thesaurus handy. When you catch yourself writing "very," look up the base adjective for stronger alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it ever okay to use "very"?

Yes, in casual conversation or when you genuinely can't find a better word. But in professional or academic writing, stronger vocabulary is always preferred.

What other "lazy" words should I avoid?

Watch out for: really, actually, basically, literally, just, quite, pretty (as in "pretty good"), and somewhat. These often weaken your writing.

How do I build a stronger vocabulary?

Read widely, keep a vocabulary journal, and practice using new words in sentences. Over time, powerful alternatives will come naturally.

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