Your conclusion is highly arguable.
Source: tatoeba (17248)
Highly
/ˈhaɪli/
Synonyms for "highly" (214 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (43)
Adverb(16 words)
a deala great deala lotabundantlyapprovinglyas all creationas all get-outauthoritativelybeaucoupconsiderableconsiderablydecidedlydegreeeffectivelyeminentlyenthusiasticallyever soever so muchexceedingly
Strong matches (64)
Adverb(14 words)
excellentlyfantasticallyfavorablyformidablyfortementegreatlylethallymaximallymightilymoltomost altered featuremost conserved custommost danish soilmost design-stage
Noun(20 words)
extremely conservedextremely difficulthundred percentjhvhmore massivemore massivelymost academic disciplinemost advanced learnersmost biotically significantmost catalog ordermost checkerboard-patternedmost claylikemost conserved motifmost cultural-revolutionarymost electricalmost emotionallymost empiricalmost foreignmost graphic designmost individualistic
Determiner(11 words)
mostmost area codemost caregivingmost casesmost closed systemmost combined energymost computingmost criminal-codemost earthing conductormost forced readingmost honors physics
Related words (107)
Determiner(28 words)
most indus civilizationmost integermost inventory-itemmost lab reagentmost livingmost living organism specimenmost marine invertebratemost massive data pointmost metalworkingmost non greek lettermost numbermost number sensemost numbered sectionsmost order-numbermost parsingmost piano duetmost portuguesemost preserved elementmost primemost proof
Show 8 more words
most qualitymost quantified energymost quantum physicsmost saved energymost state-government reformmost teaching-toolmost toxic alterationmost urban ecosystem health
Noun(29 words)
most labeledmost language artsmost meltingmost model organismsmost model-kitmost numberingmost numberlessmost oral history practicemost potential-energymost project organizationmost protective mimicrymost reasoningmost reptilianmost romanianmost school belongingmost stored energymost total energymost total energy outputmost tribalmost ungrounded
Adverb(18 words)
most national iconmost oral proficiencymost unnumbered sectionpreeminentlyradicallyrevoltinglyroyallystronglyterminallyterriblyterrificallytoppinglyveryvirulentlywell corroborated claimwell documented datawell organized classroomwickedly
muchmuchlynever sono endno end ofnot a littlenotablenotablyparlousplentypowerfullypretty muchquiteremarkablysoso very muchstrikinglystronglysupersurpassingly
Show 10 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: extremely, a deal, a great deal, a lot, abundantly.
- Sentence evidence is available for highly, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "highly".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "highly"
Keep "highly" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "highly" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "highly", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "highly" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesdegree adverbevaluation termtone marker
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
6 entrieshighly controversialhighly detailedhighly effectivehighly likelyhighly recommendedhighly skilled
Inflections
2 entriesmore highlymost highly
Sample sentences
16 total sentences available.
The habits of highly intelligent people offer a clue as to how to do that.
Source: tatoeba (18863)
The sea ice is highly variable - frozen solid during cold, calm weather and broken up in large areas of open water during storms.
Source: tatoeba (22233)
We cannot speak too highly of his great achievements.
Source: tatoeba (22750)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "highly"?
Closest matches include extremely, a deal, a great deal, a lot, abundantly.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "highly"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.