1
as in preferably
by choice or preference
I would rather go to the movies than stay at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in instead
as a substitute
don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pretty
to some degree or extent
I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rather
Parenting isn’t a singular task, but rather an amalgamation of mindsets and duties that are integrated into the rest of life’s experiences.
—
Christian Dashiell Published,
Parents,
18 June 2026
Prosecutors, rather, claim the acts were planned and deliberate.
—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
This is not an agreement on any part of the project itself, but rather an agreement on the process of working together, according to the city.
—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
In other words, Americans are increasingly making voting decisions based not on who should win elections but rather on who shouldn’t.
—
Charlie Hunt,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Christian Dashiell Published,
Parents,
18 June 2026
Prosecutors, rather, claim the acts were planned and deliberate.
—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
This is not an agreement on any part of the project itself, but rather an agreement on the process of working together, according to the city.
—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
In other words, Americans are increasingly making voting decisions based not on who should win elections but rather on who shouldn’t.
—
Charlie Hunt,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
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Make sure to aim the water to the soil and not the foliage, and preferably water in the morning.
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Prune indeterminate tomatoes at least every couple of weeks, preferably more often, as new suckers appear on the plant.
Adverb
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The La Roja boss didn’t react quickly enough to the situation, instead opting for more of the same after the halftime break – rightly or wrongly relying on his mainstay players who largely brought him to this point – and didn’t change anyone until the 71st minute.
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Pages was instead competing with all NL outfielders.
Adverb
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Switzerland has played a pretty physical game in the first half, but Canada has challenged its players at every turn, frustrating the Swiss in the attacking third after denying two different chances at the goal.
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For decades, earthquakes pretty much anywhere met a large, unilateral US response of assistance.
Adverb
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If CosRx can convince people to willingly slather snail mucin on their faces, trusting the brand with hair care is a pretty easy next step.
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Hart willingly did the dirty work, snatching up rebounds rather than points.
Adverb
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Captain Edson Álvarez helped turn away South Korea’s attack late, holding up relatively well despite having left ankle surgery during the past year.
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Because this research was conducted on mice over a relatively short 16-week period, further clinical trials are necessary to determine whether a completely sugar-free diet causes the same gut and liver inflammation in humans.
Adverb
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Trump might soon gain another ideological bedfellow in Peru with the election of Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of late autocrat Alberto Fujimori.
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Casting and ticket info will be announced soon.
Adverb
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Ament didn’t quite reach his offensive potential at Tennessee, but this is not dissimilar to the gamble the Bucks once took on a young Antetokounmpo.
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But the Clippers have shaken up their team quite a bit in the last few months and are a team worth watching this week.
Adverb
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While most annual meteor showers follow a fairly predictable script, the June Bootids have a habit of surprising astronomers.
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Shortly, the reshaping of the Charlotte Hornets’ roster should be fairly complete.
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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