alternatives

noun

plural of alternative
as in options
the power, right, or opportunity to choose there's no alternative: we must cross the stream to reach our destination

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 alternatives This mandated that at least 10% of locally generated, unrestricted revenue be allocated to incarceration alternatives, advancing what was called the county’s Care First, Jails Last vision. — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Topo Chico is bubbling back onto store shelves after a monthslong absence that left fans of the cult-favorite mineral water scrambling for alternatives. — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Senior living alternatives don’t have to mean leaving home entirely. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 Eco effort No plastic packaging or bottles, and there are plastic straw alternatives. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026 The search for alternatives comes as the historically negative correlation between equities and bonds has become less dependable amid supply shocks, inflation pressures and bond market volatility. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 Systems can now evaluate conditions, choose between alternatives and trigger actions across inventory, transportation, fulfillment and workforce applications. — Amruth Puppala, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 The Madrid City Council and Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida claimed the council and municipal services offered Abascal alternatives before the eviction, per Euronews. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 Common Sense Media recommends considering simpler alternatives when a child needs to communicate but isn’t ready for a smartphone, including basic phones and smartwatches. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternatives
  1. options
  2. choices
Noun
  • The county’s options for the facility range from holding Discovery Place in default and taking over the nature museum to accepting Discovery Place’s terms and giving the organization decades to repay the debt, staff said.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Argentina’s program is poised to be one of the most popular options on the market, due to the country's comparative proximity to the United States, strong economy, and passport power.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of options
Noun
  • Under the state's system, ballots that display voters' choices and electronic ballot images created by the scanners that read them are randomized.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Verizon’s decision to drop Starz deprives its customers of access to a unique slate of programming that cannot be found anywhere else and leaves viewers with fewer choices.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of choices

Browse Nearby Words

alternatively
alternatives
alters
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Cite this Entry

“Alternatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternatives. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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