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.

comparison

let alone

Phrase introducing something harder

nowhere near · hardly · barely · scarcely · never mind · forget about

degree

fractionally

By a small part

Opposites
scalar direction

much lessall the more

Intensified by circumstance

even more so · let alone · not to mention · to say nothing of

rhetorical force

much lessin fact

Emphasizing what's true

indeed · moreover · furthermore · what's more · and then some

RHETORICAL FUNCTION (discouragement vs. encouragement)

much lesseven more so

and then some · by all means · absolutely · of course · certainly

Family

much, less, least, lesser, too much, how much, overmuch, muchness, leastways

Familiarity
Top 20,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G