Synonyms of rather

rather

adverb

ˈra-t͟hər 

1

as in preferably

by choice or preference

I would rather go to the movies than stay at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• preferably
• willingly
• soon
• either
• readily
• instead
• first
• alternatively
• alternately
• fain
• voluntarily
• optionally
• gladly
• wishfully
• desirably
• electively
• obligingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• involuntarily
• reluctantly
• unwillingly
• forcibly
• willy-nilly

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

• instead
• first
• alternatively
• alternately
• in lieu

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

• pretty
• relatively
• quite
• fairly
• somewhat
• something
• enough
• moderately
• a little
• to a degree
• a bit
• a mite
• of sorts
• like
• slightly
• sort of
• kind of
• after a sort
• a tad
• kindly
• more or less
• a touch
• vaguely
• decently
• tolerably
• acceptably
• little
• passably
• partly
• nominally
• partially
• negligibly
• halfway
• incompletely
• partway
• half
• part

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• very
• extremely
• particularly
• highly
• especially
• heavily
• exceedingly
• terribly
• awfully
• exceptionally
• greatly
• deadly
• substantially
• significantly
• frightfully
• hugely
• considerably
• mortally
• mightily
• beastly
• extensively
• surpassingly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rather

The outcome is not an ensemble of political works, but rather an experiment in collectively navigating the politics of memory collectively decades after one of South Korea’s most traumatic moments. — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Back in the mid-’90s, Nate Ruess and Sam Means were just two Weezer-loving high schoolers who met under a blue album moon, and everything started coming undone—or rather, together—for the indie pop-rock band. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 29 Sep. 2026

The team found that something that had previously been considered a rather exotic theoretical possibility emerged naturally from the evolution of the simulated universe. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit did not challenge the legality of the tax itself, but rather the rollout. — Katherine Koretski, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026