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
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 rather
While Burke is rather shy about his TV heartthrob status, fans still show him a lot of love on social media.
—
Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Congressional appropriations don't fund passport processing; rather, processing is primarily funded by passport applications, so this service isn't directly impacted by the government shutdown.
—Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic has unveiled a rather stark reality for Moore on that front.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
In one rather cliched moment, Springsteen is buying his first new car.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Congressional appropriations don't fund passport processing; rather, processing is primarily funded by passport applications, so this service isn't directly impacted by the government shutdown.
—Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic has unveiled a rather stark reality for Moore on that front.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
In one rather cliched moment, Springsteen is buying his first new car.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
To reap the most nutrients from your java, skip the sugar and milk and enjoy it black (preferably filtered) to sip your way to better health.—
Laura Schober,
Health,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Taller plants can be covered in breathable material, preferably some kind of fabric, Orick said.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Hailey opted out of wearing Blue Jays gear, instead choosing a gray hooded jacket.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Zettel then decided renting a hotel room for the night would be too expensive and let her daughter sleep in her car instead.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
During a pretty boring game that ended in a 105-95 Knicks win, Eagle and his analyst, Stan Van Gundy, made some chicken salad.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In the spring of 2024, another photo, the last, showed him in pretty much the same outfit somewhere on the streets of Santa Fe, clinging to Betsy’s arm.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Most national leaders, after all, do not willingly associate themselves with diarrhea.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Jan began receiving love letters from Berchtold and willingly wrote back.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Although Harrison is relatively new to UFC, she's been professionally fighting for years.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The University of Miami law school graduate was a relatively young prosecutor in 2004 when she was chosen to lead a team to prosecute Smith — who was ultimately convicted of the murders of six people, mostly associated with gang activity and drug trade.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
It will soon be connected to Oaxaca City next year for easy access.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Revolutionary groups, often recruited from universities and the intelligentsia, were soon carrying out terrorist attacks in the cities.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
This shortfall was quite disappointing.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There’s also been quite a bit of slash and burn.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
In the first fight, Dern edged out two rounds to take a 29-28 decision, winning the first round fairly comfortably on the feet and outlanding Jandiroba 28-19.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Yet over a decade later, the constitution remains provisional and there is no clear agreement on how the central government in Mogadishu shares power with Somalia’s seven member states—some of which operate fairly autonomously.—
Omar S Mahmood,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share