You’re trying to make a point. You feel it in your gut. So, naturally, you reach for that old, reliable crutch: "strongly." You strongly disagree. You strongly recommend the pasta. You strongly believe the Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl this year.
Stop. Just stop.
It’s a lazy word. Honestly, it's the linguistic equivalent of beige wallpaper. It’s there, it fills the space, but it does absolutely nothing to move the needle or make someone actually feel the weight of your conviction. If everything is "strong," then nothing is. When you use the same intensifier for a business merger and a preference for oat milk, the word loses its teeth.
Finding other words for strongly isn't just about being a "word nerd." It’s about precision. It’s about making sure the person reading your email or listening to your pitch actually feels the force of your argument instead of just glancing over another generic adverb.
The Problem With "Strongly" (And Why We Use It Anyway)
We’re busy. Our brains are wired for efficiency, which is usually just a polite way of saying we’re mentally exhausted. When we need to add emphasis, "strongly" is the first thing the brain’s search engine spits out because it’s safe. It’s professional. It doesn’t ruffle feathers.
But safety is the enemy of good writing.
Look at the Merriam-Webster definition. It’s about power, intensity, and durability. But in modern English, it’s become a "filler" intensifier. It’s a "very" with a suit on. If you want to rank in the minds of your audience—whether that’s Google’s algorithm or your boss—you need nuance.
Hard-Hitting Alternatives for Professional Settings
In a boardroom, "strongly" is weak. If you say you "strongly suggest" a course of action, it sounds like a suggestion. If you say you adamantly oppose a budget cut, people sit up.
Adamantly implies an unbreakable resolve. It comes from the Greek adamas, meaning "untameable" or "diamond." Use this when you aren't just giving an opinion, but drawing a line in the sand. It’s a heavy-duty word. Don't use it for lunch choices.
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Maybe you need something with more movement? Try vehemently.
This is the word for passion. It’s for when your disagreement isn't just logical, but visceral. If someone accuses you of something you didn't do, you don't "strongly" deny it. You vehemently deny it. It carries a sense of energy and heat.
Then there’s categorically. This is the legal eagle of the group. If you categorically refuse to sign a document, you are saying there are zero exceptions. You aren't just being "strong"; you are being absolute. It leaves no room for "well, maybe." It’s the ultimate door-slammer of adverbs.
When You Need To Be Persuasive
Sometimes you aren't fighting; you’re selling.
- Compellingly: Use this when the evidence does the talking. "The data compellingly suggests we need to pivot."
- Persuasively: A bit more direct. It focuses on the act of convincing.
- Strenuously: This one feels physical. If you strenuously object, it sounds like you’re putting your whole weight against the door to keep it shut.
The "Vibe" Shift: Conversational Intensifiers
Let's get real. If you're texting a friend or writing a blog post that doesn't sound like a white paper, these big words might feel a bit stiff. You don't tell your best friend you "vehemently prefer" tacos over pizza. You’d sound like a Victorian ghost.
In casual settings, we have better tools.
Dead-set. "I'm dead-set on going to that concert." It’s punchy. It’s human. It conveys a level of certainty that "strongly" could never touch. It suggests you’ve already made up your mind and nothing—not rain, not a broken car, not a global pandemic—is stopping you.
Firmly.
This is the middle ground. It’s less aggressive than "vehemently" but more solid than "strongly." If you firmly believe in something, it suggests a foundation. You aren't just shouting; you're standing on solid ground.
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Wholeheartedly.
This is the emotional heavy hitter. You don't "strongly" support a friend’s new business venture. You wholeheartedly support it. It brings the heart into the conversation. It implies sincerity and total alignment of values. It’s a warm word. Use it when you want to build a bridge, not win a fight.
Why Specificity Wins Every Time
Mark Forsyth, author of The Etymologicon, talks about how we use words to signal our place in the world. When you use "strongly," you signal that you're using the default settings.
Think about the difference here:
- "I strongly recommend this book."
- "I unreservedly recommend this book."
The second one feels more honest, doesn't it? "Unreservedly" implies you’ve looked for the flaws and couldn't find any. You are giving it your full stamp of approval without holding anything back.
What about deeply?
"I am strongly saddened" sounds like a press release. "I am deeply saddened" sounds like a person. Use "deeply" for emotions—regret, sorrow, gratitude, love. It adds a vertical dimension to your language, suggesting the feeling goes way below the surface.
Avoiding the "Adverb Trap"
Here is a secret that many expert writers won't tell you: the best way to find other words for strongly is often to delete the word entirely and fix the verb.
This is where the real magic happens.
Instead of saying you "strongly dislike" something, why not say you loathe it? Or you detest it? Or you abhor it?
Instead of "strongly supporting" a candidate, you champion them.
Instead of "strongly suggesting" a change, you urge it.
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Verbs are the engines of your sentences. Adverbs are just the fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror. If your engine is powerful enough, you don't need the decorations. When you find yourself reaching for "strongly," ask yourself: "Is there a verb that does this job better?"
The Impact of Word Choice on SEO and Readability
In the world of 2026, search engines are getting eerily good at detecting "thin" content. Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) guidelines favor writing that shows real human depth.
If your article is littered with generic intensifiers like "strongly," "very," and "really," the algorithm sees it as low-effort. It looks like it was generated by a basic script. Using precise language like resolutely, emphatically, or unwaveringly tells both the reader and the search engine that this content was crafted by someone who actually knows their stuff.
Nuance is a ranking factor.
A Quick Cheat Sheet for Different Contexts
- For Legal/Official use: Categorically, expressly, unequivocally.
- For Emotional/Personal use: Profoundly, wholeheartedly, deeply.
- For Intellectual/Debate use: Adamantly, vehemently, strenuously.
- For Positive/Supportive use: Unreservedly, enthusiastically, stoutly.
How to Actually Implement This
Don't go through your old documents and hit "Find and Replace" for every "strongly." That’s how you end up with weird, clunky sentences that sound like you’re trying too hard.
Instead, do a "conviction check" during your second draft. Read your sentences out loud. Does "strongly" actually carry the weight of what you're trying to say? If you're writing a cover letter and say you're "strongly interested" in the role, you sound like every other applicant. If you say you're keenly interested, or that you've long admired the company’s approach to X, you stand out.
Language is a toolset. "Strongly" is a hammer. It works, but sometimes you need a scalpel, a chisel, or a sledgehammer.
Actionable Next Steps
Start by auditing your most recent sent emails. Look for the "strongly" occurrences.
Next time you catch yourself typing it, pause. Identify the flavor of the strength you’re trying to convey. Is it an intellectual certainty? Use emphatically. Is it a refusal to budge? Use steadfastly. Is it an emotional connection? Use profoundly.
- Identify the Core Emotion: Are you angry, certain, or supportive?
- Match the Tone: Don't use "vehemently" in a casual Slack message unless you're being ironic.
- Upgrade the Verb: See if you can replace the "strongly + verb" combo with one powerful, singular verb.
- Read it Aloud: If the new word trips you up, it’s the wrong one. The right synonym should slide right into the sentence like it was always meant to be there.
Better writing doesn't happen by accident. It happens when you stop settling for the first word that comes to mind and start hunting for the one that actually fits. Replace the generic with the specific, and watch how much more people actually listen to what you have to say.