as in options
the power, right, or opportunity to choose
there's no alternative: we must cross the stream to reach our destination
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Recent Examples of alternatives
BlackRock’s purchases of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) in 2024 and private credit investment manager HPS Investment Partners in 2025, for more than $24 billion in cash and stock combined, catapulted it into the top five global alternatives providers.
—
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Musk recognizes that making cars is a crappy business in the AI era, especially when China is willing to subsidize them and flood the market with cheap alternatives.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Last fall, Crystal International joined environmental nonprofit Textile Exchange, pledging to expand the adoption of preferred sustainable alternatives in materials and manufacturing processes that will allow the company to minimize its environmental impact.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
State your rate and suggest alternatives, because steady boundaries support respectful collaborations.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
Cunha and Amad represent actual suitable alternatives and at a lower price.
—Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
If alternatives are not built, instability could increase rather than fade.
—Maria Mendiluce, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The Rise of Secondary Markets As organizations navigated ongoing economic volatility throughout the year, Corporate Traveler observed a noticeable shift in the emergence of secondary markets as cost-effective alternatives to major city centers.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But for local governments, those projects can be relatively quick, effective and, crucially, inexpensive alternatives to large-scale transit investments.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Musk recognizes that making cars is a crappy business in the AI era, especially when China is willing to subsidize them and flood the market with cheap alternatives.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Last fall, Crystal International joined environmental nonprofit Textile Exchange, pledging to expand the adoption of preferred sustainable alternatives in materials and manufacturing processes that will allow the company to minimize its environmental impact.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
State your rate and suggest alternatives, because steady boundaries support respectful collaborations.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
Cunha and Amad represent actual suitable alternatives and at a lower price.
—Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
If alternatives are not built, instability could increase rather than fade.
—Maria Mendiluce, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The Rise of Secondary Markets As organizations navigated ongoing economic volatility throughout the year, Corporate Traveler observed a noticeable shift in the emergence of secondary markets as cost-effective alternatives to major city centers.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But for local governments, those projects can be relatively quick, effective and, crucially, inexpensive alternatives to large-scale transit investments.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternatives
Noun
-
That’s it; those options represent the full suite of possibilities that are consistent with dark matter.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Flexible hours or remote work options might be worth more than a modest salary increase.—
Kwame Christian Esq,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nonhormonal choices such as copper IUDs and diaphragms can be invasive and bring undesirable side effects of their own.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Color design is increasingly moving from trend-chasing choices to intentional restraint.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alternatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternatives. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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