Nevertheless vs Nonetheless

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Nevertheless

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adverb

Nonetheless

Top 2,000 (common) C1 adverb

	Nevertheless	Nonetheless
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˌnevəðəˈles/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˌnevərðəˈles/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/
Meaning	In spite of that; however.	In spite of that; however.
Example	There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. Nevertheless, it is important that we try.	The book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	C1
Part of speech	adverb	adverb
Collocations	nevertheless, she persisted, nevertheless, it remains, nevertheless, we continue	nonetheless acknowledge, nonetheless consider, nonetheless important
Antonyms	therefore, consequently	therefore, consequently
Common mistakes	Used interchangeably with 'however' without understanding context differences., Omitted or misused in informal speech., Confused with 'nonetheless'.	Using 'nonetheless' where 'but' would suffice., Misplacing 'nonetheless' within a sentence., Confusing 'nonetheless' with 'nevertheless'; both are similar but 'nonetheless' is slightly more formal.
Usage notes	Often used to introduce a contrasting statement or to show that something is true despite what has just been said. It's more common in written English, and may seem too formal in casual spoken contexts.	Use 'nonetheless' to contrast or show that something is true despite what has been said. More common in written English; less suitable for casual spoken conversations.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

But we will meet them in battle nonetheless.

Nonetheless

Frequently asked questions: Nevertheless vs Nonetheless

What's the difference between Nevertheless and Nonetheless?

Nevertheless: In spite of that; however. Nonetheless: In spite of that; however.

Which is more advanced: Nevertheless and Nonetheless?

Nonetheless is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Nevertheless and Nonetheless the same CEFR level?

Nevertheless: B2, Nonetheless: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Nevertheless and Nonetheless?

Nevertheless: adverb, Nonetheless: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Nevertheless: There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. Nevertheless, it is important that we try. Nonetheless: The book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining.

Can I use Nevertheless and Nonetheless interchangeably?

Not always. Nevertheless and Nonetheless are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.