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
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Recent Examples of rather
No, the worst Christopher Reeve Superman film is not the embarrassing Cannon Films installment but rather the one featuring a world-class comedian, a woman turning into a computer, and a terrific junkyard battle between Clark Kent and his belligerent jerk doppelganger.
—
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025
The first, rather vacuous season hinges in part on whether the Russells’ neighbor—the huffy, old-money Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski)—will ever cross Sixty-first Street to visit.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The roles aren't based on age, but rather discipline.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 July 2025
His views on the current state of cinema are rather depressing.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025
The first, rather vacuous season hinges in part on whether the Russells’ neighbor—the huffy, old-money Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski)—will ever cross Sixty-first Street to visit.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The roles aren't based on age, but rather discipline.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 July 2025
His views on the current state of cinema are rather depressing.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
Packed to the brim with all the essential vitamins and minerals a person could need, just two capsules a day (preferably taken with breakfast) provides a solid nutritional foundation without the hassle of juggling multiple supplements.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 July 2025
-
Give the plants a spot in a south- or west-facing window, preferably, says Berendsen.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
23 July 2025
Adverb
-
During a press briefing Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce deflected questions about the allegations against Levi and lifting the sanctions, instead deferring to the Israeli government to investigate.—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
31 July 2025
-
Powell did not buckle under Trump’s pressure campaign, instead keeping short-term interest rates at a level of 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
31 July 2025
Adverb
-
Doubs being offered was intriguing but Dallas is in a pretty good spot behind Lamb and Pickens with the combination of Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo and maybe another player who emerges in the preseason.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Following a change to public health laws in 2020, smoking is pretty tightly restricted in Japan to prevent second-hand exposure.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
What is more interesting is that within the emerging markets universe there is a decent number of large emerging economies that have relatively low levels of debt – Indonesia and Mexico for example.—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Three relatively unheralded pitchers — Vásquez, Ryan Bergert (sixth round pick in 2021) and Stephen Kolek (Rule 5 pick from Seattle in 2023) — have combined for a 3.79 ERA in 204 1/3 innings.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Adverb
-
Jurassic World Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali, is reportedly coming soon to digital streaming.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
-
Production starts soon and the pic will play on Netflix after a theatrical run.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
31 July 2025
Adverb
-
Weaver has also dealt with injuries this season and has not been quite as sharp.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Aug. 2025
-
That’s actually worked out really well so far as the unlikely duo has gelled quite nicely and Flair is arguably more over as a babyface than she’s ever been.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
The curvature could happen because the stress on the fault at the surface is fairly low compared to the stress farther underground.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 July 2025
-
All looked fairly predictable, and then the second Trump administration changed policies significantly.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adverb
-
At Jamie's, Millie discovers an old home video playing of two people who both look somewhat like Jamie participating in what appears to be an occult wedding ritual that involves both of them slicing open their wrists and pressing them together.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
30 July 2025
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At a time when Medicaid and Medicare popularity is at all-time high, the new tax bill was found to be somewhat unfavorable throughout the county, according to a KFF study, suggesting the federal health programs could have a rocky future as public opinion and policy decision clash.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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