otherwise

Definition of otherwisenext
as in else
in a different way the candidate was gracious in his defeat, though he clearly wished the election had gone otherwise

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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 otherwise The furry white marsupials, which waddle back into remote areas — places where humans would not otherwise set foot — are almost like spies penetrating the secret lives of pythons. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026 But how did an otherwise random day in April become shorthand for marijuana culture? Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026 To ensure opportunities for all, my studio will offer scholarships and programs for students who might not otherwise have access to training. Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026 With the loss, an otherwise encouraging season for a young Charlotte squad (44-38) ends in the play-in while the Magic (45-37) extend their year into the first round of the playoffs. Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for otherwise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for otherwise
Adverb
  • But everyone else knew the end had come.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • As a result, the city has sometimes been typecast as a boring financial bro with catatonic cuisine to match—a place with too many steakhouses and little else to hang its culinary hat on.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Weathering the storm The impact of the energy shock, however, is hitting the two Asian economies differently.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
  • This quality didn’t wear as well on Leslie Knope, or perhaps the supporting characters didn’t do enough to balance her out, or perhaps, alas, a bumbling woman just read differently.
    Jennifer Armstrong, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Otherwise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/otherwise. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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