Thesaurus results for INSTEAD

instead

adverb

in-ˈsted

Definition of instead next

as in rather

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 instead With Shaquille O’Neal, Pat Riley went to Los Angeles for what the Lakers thought would be a job interview and instead planted the seeds for the Shaquille O’Neal trade. —

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026 The jalapeño is going to change the glass, so save the special bottle and use a crisp, affordable Sauvignon Blanc instead. —

Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 With Golden Tempo not running, his jockey, Jose Ortiz, will instead ride Chip Honcho. —

Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 May 2026 Canned tuna isn’t a replacement for the fresh kind but instead is its own big player. —

Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for instead

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instead

rather

Adverb

That means viewership around such stuff is smaller, and the networks need to show that ads are reaching not the most people, but rather the most likely people to be interested in a bottle of soda, a specific kind of running shoe, or a new weight-loss drug.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 May 2026
That’s because the government’s gas tax isn’t collected right at the pump, but rather at the wholesale level.

— Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026