Synonyms of instead

instead

adverb

in-ˈsted 

as in rather

as a substitute

I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rather
• first
• in lieu
• alternately
• alternatively

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of instead

Not so in Catalonia, where, under the hand of Laporta, in a presidential role where popularity is key to sticking around, Barca instead opted to find ever more novel ways of raising money. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

But instead, he was welcomed by a crowd of people who came to congratulate him. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025

Unlike previous years, the president’s inauguration ceremony was closed to the public, shown instead on state TV. —Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025

And Bosa appeared to have had a path to Mahomes, only to stop his charge and drop back into coverage instead. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025