“very”

To a degree that surpasses normal limits or expectations.

“She was exceedingly patient with the chaotic crowd that had gathered at the gates.”

Best for: Works well in formal writing or speech when you want mild elevation without ostentation.

To a striking or notable degree that commands attention.

“The old bridge was remarkably intact despite two centuries of brutal winters.”

Best for: Ideal for journalistic or narrative prose where you want emphasis with credibility.

To the highest possible degree, suggesting total dominance of a quality.

“He was supremely calm the moment before the storm broke overhead.”

Best for: Punchy and confident; suits bold statements in essays, speeches, or strong fiction.

To a degree so extreme it defies expression in words.

“Standing at the cliff's edge, she felt unutterably small against the open ocean.”

Best for: Best in literary or poetic writing where emotional intensity needs to feel boundless.

In a manner that is complete, perfect, and fully realized.

“He was consummately skilled at making strangers feel they had known him for years.”

Best for: Sophisticated and precise; fits profiles, criticism, or admiring formal descriptions.

To a dangerously or alarmingly great degree, often implying precarious excess.

“The expedition was parlously close to running out of water by the third day.”

Best for: Archaic and rare; best reserved for literary fiction or historical writing for texture.