1
as in preferably
by choice or preference
I would rather go to the movies than stay at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in instead
as a substitute
don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pretty
to some degree or extent
I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rather
Blustery, gray, and cool Thursday across Maryland Thursday will be rather gray, blustery and unseasonably cool.
—
Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Unlike the Kieslowski version, however, this is not a love story but rather one about creativity and imagination.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
As for that rather significant runtime?
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The beloved Sesame Street character, or rather, its doppelganger, has been spotted Down Under.
—Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Unlike the Kieslowski version, however, this is not a love story but rather one about creativity and imagination.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
As for that rather significant runtime?
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The beloved Sesame Street character, or rather, its doppelganger, has been spotted Down Under.
—Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
Attendees are asked to bring a dish of food to share, preferably in a disposable container.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2026
-
To make one, grab a clean, thick sock (preferably a larger one) and fill it with uncooked rice, oats, or flaxseed.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
Adverb
-
According to the president of Iran’s soccer federation, the team will instead establish its base camp in Mexico.—
Chantz Martin OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
-
Some barbers worked out of their homes instead.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Adverb
-
And Bracken Darrell, president and chief executive officer, is feeling pretty good about taking the company’s turnaround fully out of the fix-it phase and into the growth phase.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
-
The former superstar had a pretty good season as a third-line winger with rookie center Danila Yurov and Yakov Trenin, recording 23 goals and 46 points in 75 games, but his salary is an issue.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
20 May 2026
Adverb
-
The scheme has been so successful, law enforcement has created a joint FBI-National Security Division task force to disrupt the operations and have dealt a series of harsh prison terms to American accomplices who have willingly aided the North Koreans.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Part of the experiment involves Mesler willingly extricating himself from Kordansky’s gallery roster.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
While the first debate, hosted by Nexstar on April 22, was relatively calm, the subsequent three debates were more chaotic, often serving as an opportunity for candidates to lob accusations at one another.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
These relatively limited records from New Netherland consist mostly of what others said about them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
Police parked anti-riot vehicles in a central Belgrade area to block the demonstrators from returning, and the violence soon ended.—
Jovana Gec,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
-
The dog couldn’t go in her room so soon after her transplant, so Aspen dabbed colors on a small canvas and handed it to Scott, who put it in a plastic bag and smeared peanut butter on top.—
Laura Ungar,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adverb
-
The dazzling variety of musical practices, across places and across time, surfaces this interplay in sensorily vivid terms, providing a unique opportunity to illuminate the role of history and environment on perceptual experiences that feel quite individual.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Francesco Caballero has been juggling a lot — quite literally.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Adverb
-
At that hour, the place was fairly empty.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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