much less
Not to mention
Much less introduces something even more unlikely or extreme than what was just stated, always following a negative: He can barely walk, much less run.
The phrase signals that if the first thing isn't possible, the second certainly isn't.
Interchangeable with let alone and still less.
Phrase introducing something harder
- not to mentionPhrase adding emphasis
- to say nothing ofPhrase introducing additional point
- far fromAt great distance from
- nowhere nearAt great distance from
hardly · barely · scarcely · never mind · forget about
let alone
Phrase introducing something harder
- not to mentionPhrase adding emphasis
- to say nothing ofPhrase introducing additional point
- far fromAt great distance from
nowhere near · hardly · barely · scarcely · never mind · forget about
fractionally
By a small part
- minimallyTo the smallest extent
much lessall the more
Intensified by circumstance
even more so · let alone · not to mention · to say nothing of
much lessin fact
Emphasizing what's true
indeed · moreover · furthermore · what's more · and then some
much lesseven more so
and then some · by all means · absolutely · of course · certainly
much, less, least, lesser, too much, how much, overmuch, muchness, leastways