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

That’s a dynamic Republicans are wrestling with in public right now, as the GOP’s efforts to purge both critics of Israel and open antisemites from the party risk instead driving its populist wing closer to those positions. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025

Others are opting to un-celebrate and, instead, to denigrate the anniversary, following the logic of Nikole Hannah-Jones’s original introduction to the 1619 Project, which cast the Revolution as regrettable. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025

And there’s also an argument that humans shouldn’t be going to planets and moons at all and should instead stick to building space stations and other sorts of artificial orbital habitats. —Lee Billings, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2025

Instead of letting that hold her back, Valancy chooses to be open about her feelings instead. —Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025