最も・尤も|もっともmottomo[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. adverbmost; extremely
   ケンは三さん人にんのなかでもっとも速はやく走はしります。↗

   Ken runs fastest of the three.

• Synonym極めてきわめてWrittenWritten/formal prose word for 'extremely', as in 「極めて重要だ」. It stresses a very high degree, not first place in a comparison, so it can't replace 「最も」 there.
• Synonym最さいNeutralNeutral. Mostly a prefix forming 「最高」「最新」「最大」, also in 「最たるもの」. Unlike 「最も」, it doesn't directly modify adjectives or verbs to mark the superlative.
• Synonym至極しごくWrittenWritten word meaning 'extremely', mostly used as a suffix as in 「残念至極」. Carries an old-fashioned flavor.
• Synonym至っていたってWrittenWritten word meaning 'very, quite', as in 「至って元気」「至って普通」「至って簡単」. It only signals a high degree and is not used for the superlative in comparisons.

Use 「最も」 for the superlative in comparisons. For simply a high degree, choose 「極めて」 or 「至って」. 「最」 mainly builds compounds like 「最高」「最新」, and 「至極」 works mostly as a suffix, as in 「残念至極」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 2つ以上いじょうのものの中なかで、一番いちばんであるさま。