Finding the right synonym for highly depends on what you mean. In many sentences, highly means “very” or “to a great degree,” but it can also describe a high level or status, or express strong approval. That is why words such as extremely, greatly, exceptionally, remarkably, strongly, and well are not always interchangeable.

This guide explains the most useful synonyms for highly, shows where each one works naturally, and helps you choose the best alternative for formal, professional, academic, and everyday English.

Quick Answer: What Are the Best Synonyms for Highly?

The closest alternatives to highly include extremely, very, greatly, exceptionally, remarkably, incredibly, intensely, and particularly when the word means “to a very high degree.” However, the best replacement changes with context. For example, strongly works naturally with “recommend,” well works with “regarded,” and exceptionally is useful when emphasizing unusually high quality or ability.

Core Synonyms for Highly

Word	Relationship	Meaning	Strength	Formality	Best Context
Extremely	Direct synonym	To a very great degree	Very strong	Neutral	Intensity, qualities, conditions
Very	Direct synonym	To a high degree	Moderate	Neutral	Everyday English
Greatly	Near synonym	To a great degree	Strong	Neutral–formal	Effects, changes, importance
Exceptionally	Near synonym	To an unusually high degree	Very strong	Neutral–formal	Ability, quality, performance
Remarkably	Near synonym	To a notably high degree	Strong	Neutral–formal	Achievement, qualities
Incredibly	Near synonym	To an extraordinary degree	Very strong	Neutral	Informal–neutral emphasis
Intensely	Contextual alternative	With great intensity	Very strong	Neutral	Feelings, reactions, experiences
Particularly	Contextual alternative	Especially or notably	Moderate–strong	Neutral	Emphasis and selection
Especially	Contextual alternative	More than others	Moderate	Neutral	Preference, importance
Considerably	Near synonym	By a substantial amount	Strong	Formal	Change, difference, quantity
Immense­ly	Near synonym	To an extremely great degree	Very strong	Neutral–formal	Gratitude, importance, enjoyment
Tremendously	Near synonym	To a very great degree	Very strong	Neutral	Success, impact, benefit
Supremely	Near synonym	At the highest level	Very strong	Formal/literary	Excellence, confidence
Profoundly	Contextual alternative	In a deep or significant way	Strong	Formal	Effects, beliefs, emotions
Strongly	Contextual alternative	With force or conviction	Strong	Neutral–formal	Recommendations, opinions
Deeply	Contextual alternative	In a profound or intense way	Strong	Neutral	Feelings, concern, commitment
Heavily	Contextual alternative	To a great extent or amount	Strong	Neutral	Dependence, taxation, reliance
Seriously	Contextual alternative	To a considerable or severe degree	Strong	Neutral	Problems, concerns, consequences
Well	Contextual alternative	In a favorable or respected way	Context-specific	Neutral	Regarded, respected, known
Favourably / Favorably	Contextual alternative	With approval	Strong	Formal	Reviews, opinions, assessments
Enthusiastically	Contextual alternative	With strong approval or excitement	Strong	Neutral	Recommendations, support
Wholeheartedly	Contextual alternative	With complete sincerity or support	Strong	Neutral	Recommendations, endorsement
Generously	Contextual alternative	In a large or abundant amount	Context-specific	Neutral	Pay, compensation
High-level	Related phrase	At an advanced or elevated level	Context-specific	Neutral–formal	Skills, discussions, positions
Superiorly	Generally not a recommended replacement	In a superior manner	—	—	Usually unnatural as a direct replacement

Not every word above can replace highly in every sentence. That distinction matters because highly has several uses rather than one single meaning.

What Does “Highly” Mean?

Highly is an adverb pronounced /ˈhaɪli/ in both American and British English. It commonly means to a high degree, very, or at a high level. It can also express strong approval or indicate a high position, rank, or status.

For example:

• The treatment was highly effective.
• She is highly skilled.
• He is highly respected in his field.
• I highly recommend this restaurant.
• She is a highly paid consultant.

Because these examples represent different meanings, replacing highly requires attention to the phrase that follows it.

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1. Extremely

Extremely is one of the closest synonyms for highly when the word means to a very great degree.

Example:

The new software is extremely efficient.

It works especially well with adjectives describing intensity, quality, difficulty, importance, or conditions.

Highly effective → Extremely effective

Highly unlikely → Extremely unlikely

Merriam-Webster lists extremely and very among the principal synonyms of highly in its “to a high degree” sense.

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2. Very

Very is the simplest and most common alternative to highly when you simply want to express a high degree.

Highly successful → Very successful

Highly important → Very important

The difference is mainly stylistic. Highly can sound more polished or selective in certain professional expressions, while very is extremely common in everyday English.

Best choice: casual, general, and straightforward writing.

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3. Greatly

Greatly means to a great degree or extent and is particularly natural when discussing effects, changes, importance, or feelings.

Example:

The new policy greatly improved customer satisfaction.

However, it does not replace highly naturally in every adjective phrase.

Natural:

greatly appreciated

Less natural:

greatly skilled

For the second sentence, highly skilled is much more idiomatic.

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4. Exceptionally

Exceptionally means to an unusually high degree and often suggests that something stands out from the normal range.

Example:

She is an exceptionally talented designer.

This is stronger and more specific than simply saying very talented.

Use it when the quality, ability, performance, or result is noticeably above average.

Highly talented → Exceptionally talented

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5. Remarkably

Remarkably emphasizes that something is unusual, impressive, or worthy of notice.

Example:

The team was remarkably successful despite limited resources.

It is particularly useful in professional, academic, and analytical writing.

Highly effective can sometimes become remarkably effective, but the meaning shifts slightly: remarkably emphasizes how notable the effectiveness is.

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6. Incredibly

Incredibly is a strong intensifier meaning to an extraordinary degree.

Example:

The service was incredibly fast.

It is common in conversational and general writing. In formal academic writing, alternatives such as extremely, exceptionally, or considerably may sometimes be more restrained.

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7. Intentionally Use “Intensely” for Intensity

Intensely is not a universal synonym for highly. It works when the emphasis is on strength or intensity, especially with emotions, experiences, or reactions.

Example:

She was intensely focused on the project.

It can also describe:

• intensely competitive
• intensely emotional
• intensely personal
• intensely debated

Do not use it merely because something is “very” strong. The underlying idea should involve intensity.

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8. Particularly

Particularly means especially or to a notable degree.

Example:

This section is particularly useful for beginners.

The focus is often selective: one thing is being emphasized as more notable than others.

Compare:

The guide is highly useful.

This emphasizes a high degree of usefulness.

The final section is particularly useful.

This emphasizes that the final section stands out.

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9. Especially

Especially is useful when highly is being used to highlight something as more notable, important, or relevant.

Example:

The advice is especially useful for new writers.

It is not always a direct replacement for highly, but it can be a better choice when the intended meaning is “particularly” or “above all.”

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10. Considerably

Considerably means by a substantial amount or to a substantial degree.

It is especially useful for measurable changes or differences.

Example:

The revised process is considerably more efficient.

Natural combinations include:

• considerably higher
• considerably lower
• considerably greater
• considerably more expensive
• considerably more effective

It is generally more analytical and formal than very.

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11. Immensely

Immensely means to an extremely great degree.

It often works with emotions, gratitude, enjoyment, value, or importance.

Examples:

We are immensely grateful for your support.

The experience was immensely valuable.

It is stronger and more expressive than ordinary very.

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12. Tremendously

Tremendously expresses a very high degree and often emphasizes a positive effect, achievement, or benefit.

Example:

The new strategy tremendously improved productivity.

It can sound more enthusiastic than greatly or considerably, so choose it according to tone.

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Context-Specific Alternatives to “Highly”

Some of the best replacements are not traditional one-word synonyms. They are natural alternatives for specific phrases.

Highly Recommended

Instead of:

I highly recommend this book.

You can say:

• I strongly recommend this book.
• I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
• I enthusiastically recommend this book.
• I thoroughly recommend this book.

Strongly recommend is the most natural general alternative.

Oxford specifically gives highly recommend as an example of highly expressing strong approval.

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Highly Respected

Instead of:

She is a highly respected professor.

You can use:

• widely respected
• deeply respected
• greatly respected
• well respected
• esteemed

Well respected and widely respected are particularly natural depending on whether you mean general reputation or broad recognition.

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Highly Regarded

Instead of:

The restaurant is highly regarded.

Natural alternatives include:

• well regarded
• widely admired
• greatly respected
• held in high regard
• favorably viewed

Collins specifically distinguishes the approval-related sense of highly, giving alternatives such as favourably, well, warmly, and enthusiastically for expressions such as think highly of.

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Highly Skilled

Instead of:

She is a highly skilled developer.

You can say:

• exceptionally skilled
• extremely skilled
• very skilled
• expert
• highly proficient

The best replacement depends on whether you want to emphasize degree or expertise.

She is exceptionally skilled at front-end development.

She is an expert in front-end development.

These are not identical constructions, but both can communicate the underlying idea more precisely.

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Highly Successful

Possible alternatives include:

• extremely successful
• exceptionally successful
• remarkably successful
• very successful
• hugely successful

Exceptionally successful emphasizes unusually high achievement, while hugely successful is more conversational.

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Highly Effective

Natural alternatives include:

• extremely effective
• exceptionally effective
• remarkably effective
• very effective
• particularly effective

The right option depends on whether you are emphasizing intensity, unusual performance, or a specific context.

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Highly Paid

Highly paid has a different meaning from simply “very.”

It refers to receiving a high salary or compensation.

Natural alternatives include:

• well paid
• high earning
• generously compensated
• highly compensated

For example:

She is a highly paid consultant.

→

She is a well-paid consultant.

Cambridge and Oxford both use highly paid to illustrate the high-level or high-amount sense of highly.

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Which Word Should You Use Instead of “Highly”?

A simple decision guide can make the choice easier.

Choose “extremely” when:

You mean to a very great degree.

The test was highly difficult.

→ The test was extremely difficult.

Choose “very” when:

You want the simplest everyday alternative.

She is highly intelligent.

→ She is very intelligent.

Choose “exceptionally” when:

Something is unusually good, capable, or impressive.

He is exceptionally talented.

Choose “remarkably” when:

You want to emphasize that something is notable or surprising.

The treatment was remarkably effective.

Choose “greatly” when:

You are talking about an effect, change, appreciation, or degree.

Her work greatly influenced the field.

Choose “strongly” when:

You are recommending, supporting, opposing, or expressing an opinion.

I strongly recommend this course.

Choose “well” when:

The phrase expresses reputation or approval.

She is well regarded by her colleagues.

Choose “particularly” when:

You want to emphasize one thing as especially notable.

This method is particularly useful for beginners.

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Highly vs. Extremely

Highly and extremely overlap when both mean “to a very high degree.”

The product is highly effective.

The product is extremely effective.

However, highly has additional uses that extremely does not naturally cover.

For example:

She is highly respected.

Here, highly contributes to the idea of strong approval or reputation.

She is extremely respected.

This is possible in some contexts, but it is less idiomatic and does not preserve the same conventional expression.

Similarly:

I highly recommend it.

is natural, whereas:

I extremely recommend it.

is not natural English.

Bottom line: use extremely for degree and intensity; retain highly in established expressions involving recommendation, reputation, rank, or approval.

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Highly vs. Very

Very is broader and more common in everyday English.

highly successful

very successful

Both are natural.

But highly often appears in established combinations:

• highly skilled
• highly qualified
• highly effective
• highly competitive
• highly respected
• highly recommended
• highly unlikely
• highly significant

So although very can replace highly in many sentences, it should not automatically replace it in every phrase.

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Highly vs. Greatly

The distinction is mainly grammatical and contextual.

Highly commonly modifies adjectives and certain participles:

highly effective

highly qualified

highly successful

Greatly frequently modifies verbs or expressions involving degree and effect:

greatly improved

greatly appreciated

greatly influenced

Therefore:

The changes greatly improved efficiency.

sounds natural.

But:

The changes highly improved efficiency.

does not.

Choosing between the two requires more than matching dictionary definitions; collocation matters.

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Common Mistakes With Synonyms for “Highly”

Mistake 1: Treating every intensifier as interchangeable

Words such as extremely, greatly, and intensely overlap with highly, but their grammatical patterns differ.

Mistake 2: Saying “extremely recommend”

This is unnatural.

Use:

I highly recommend this course.

or:

I strongly recommend this course.

Mistake 3: Replacing “highly paid” with “extremely paid”

That does not work.

Use:

well paid

or:

highly compensated

Mistake 4: Using “intensely” for every strong adjective

Intensely suggests intensity rather than simply a high degree.

intensely emotional

is natural.

intensely successful

is generally less natural than:

highly successful

Mistake 5: Assuming “highly” always means “very”

Sometimes it expresses approval, status, rank, or level rather than simple intensity. Oxford identifies three major uses: “very,” “at or to a high standard, level or amount,” and “with great respect or praise.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best synonym for highly?

Extremely is one of the closest general synonyms when highly means “to a very great degree.” However, there is no single best replacement for every sentence. Strongly works better with “recommend,” well with “regarded,” and exceptionally when emphasizing unusually high quality or ability.

What is a formal synonym for highly?

Depending on context, formal alternatives include greatly, considerably, exceptionally, remarkably, profoundly, and favorably. The correct choice depends on the construction. For example, “greatly appreciated” is natural, while “highly skilled” is usually preferable to a more formal-sounding substitute.

What is another word for highly recommended?

Common alternatives include strongly recommended, enthusiastically recommended, wholeheartedly recommended, and widely recommended. Strongly recommended is generally the most natural direct alternative when expressing a strong recommendation.

What is another word for highly respected?

Useful alternatives include well respected, widely respected, greatly respected, deeply respected, and esteemed. “Widely respected” emphasizes broad recognition, while “esteemed” is concise and somewhat more formal.

What is another word for highly skilled?

Depending on the context, you can use exceptionally skilled, extremely skilled, very skilled, highly proficient, or expert. “Expert” is especially useful when you want to describe someone as having advanced knowledge rather than simply emphasizing the degree of skill.

Is “very” a synonym for “highly”?

Yes, in many contexts. Both can mean “to a high degree.” For example, highly effective and very effective can express similar meanings. However, highly is part of many established expressions where very does not work as naturally, such as highly recommended and highly regarded.

Is “extremely” stronger than “highly”?

Often, extremely sounds stronger because it explicitly emphasizes an extreme degree. However, strength depends on the adjective and context. “Highly effective” does not necessarily mean exactly the same thing as “extremely effective,” and highly can also express meanings unrelated to simple intensity.

Can I use “greatly” instead of “highly”?

Sometimes, but not everywhere. Greatly is especially natural with verbs and expressions such as greatly improved, greatly appreciated, and greatly influenced. Highly is more natural in combinations such as highly effective, highly skilled, and highly successful.

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Conclusion

The best synonym for highly depends on what you are trying to express. For general intensity, extremely and very are useful choices. Exceptionally and remarkably emphasize unusually high quality, while greatly works especially well with effects and changes. For recommendations, strongly is often the best alternative; for reputation, well or widely may sound more natural.

The key is not to replace highly mechanically. Choose the alternative that matches the meaning, grammar, collocation, tone, and context of the sentence.