alternative 1 of 2

alternative

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun alternative contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of alternative are choice, election, option, preference, and selection. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

When can choice be used instead of alternative?

The words choice and alternative are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

In what contexts can election take the place of alternative?

The synonyms election and alternative are sometimes interchangeable, but election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

When is option a more appropriate choice than alternative?

The meanings of option and alternative largely overlap; however, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When would preference be a good substitute for alternative?

While in some cases nearly identical to alternative, preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

Where would selection be a reasonable alternative to alternative?

The words selection and alternative can be used in similar contexts, but selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alternative
Noun
Honorable Mention While soy milk took the top spot, another dairy-free alternative milk came in at a close second. Laura Schober, Health, 8 Sep. 2025 Any unpleasant government decision—such as the August order blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, on the pretext of preventing scams and terrorist activity—tends to be perceived mostly with passive discontent and immediate adaptation with the search for alternative practical solutions. Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Outsource to a lower-cost alternative. Adam Coffey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 The owners aim to offer a local alternative to big-box stores. Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alternative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternative
Noun
  • The service will display the activities of not just stock traders, but also of those trading crypto, options and other assets.
    Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will be made available in Deep Blue, Cosmic Orange, and Silver color options.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The total includes viewing via the YouTube app YouTube TV, the main telecast and alternate feeds featuring YouTube creators.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
  • For every critical appointment, set alternate meeting schemes.
    Arpit Jain, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, the company gave the job to Josie Wheeler, a nontraditional hire who’d joined the company in 2019 as an apprentice.
    Andy Tonsing, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Schoemann denied any wrongdoing, saying the county engaged in a nontraditional but widely publicized process seeking ideas for the property and the school's $3 million proposal was the best financial option.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This grew far beyond the typical choice routes coming out of the backfield.
    Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Red twig dogwood Red twig dogwood is another great choice.
    Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet even with these far-reaching effects, financial literacy continues to be treated as an optional skill set rather than as a cornerstone of true economic progress.
    Kevin Cohee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
    Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hiring him would be the most conventional aspect of a very unconventional media strategy.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • With an unconventional research approach, a new screenwriter and an unestablished director, so much of the film was a leap of faith.
    Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Without that catalyst, retailers across sectors face intensified competition for a smaller pool of discretionary spending.
    Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Nailah Queen, founder of wellness brand Regally Insane in Baltimore, said many Black Americans cut back on discretionary spending after job losses.
    Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Korean Central News Agency/AP What To Know North Korea has conducted six underground nuclear tests since 2006, the most recent in 2017.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Around a million years ago, a sinkhole opened, turning the Cedar Creek waterway into an underground river.
    Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alternative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternative. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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