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
His goal was never a quick ceasefire but rather the gradual normalization of Russian territorial conquest through the legitimizing embrace of American diplomacy.
—
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
The whole thing suddenly felt rather seedy, preparing to meet a stranger in a foreign hotel room to receive a large amount of cash.
—Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Carl Anka So much about this side is debatable except in midfield and, rather perversely, up front, where even a wantaway Alexander Isak seems the best option in the medium term (if not perhaps before the window closes).
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Brawner was issued $85,000 and $50,000 fines, paying back $130,000.
Of those funds, $117,000 served as restitution and went back to the food bank, or rather the new food bank, Feed Sumner.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
The whole thing suddenly felt rather seedy, preparing to meet a stranger in a foreign hotel room to receive a large amount of cash.
—Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Carl Anka So much about this side is debatable except in midfield and, rather perversely, up front, where even a wantaway Alexander Isak seems the best option in the medium term (if not perhaps before the window closes).
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Brawner was issued $85,000 and $50,000 fines, paying back $130,000.
Of those funds, $117,000 served as restitution and went back to the food bank, or rather the new food bank, Feed Sumner.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
Use a mild, non-antibacterial, and preferably biodegradable dish soap.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Let the chicken sit in the marinade while the air fryer preheats to 370 degrees F. Add the chicken to the air fryer basket in a single layer, preferably not touching.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
As revenge, Reilly nominated Domingue's other ally Rylie Jeffries instead.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Ukraine instead turned to its homegrown drones to strike hundreds of miles into Russian territory.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
But even if that doesn't end up being realistic, this is still a pretty neat bit of physics.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Most of the utensils were pretty cheap, quite worn, and really should have been tossed a long time ago—including my black plastic spatula.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Cleaning your dryer vent is a relatively simple process.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The stadium’s design in its current form has a relatively modest cost of $175 million for Republic FC and Wilton Rancheria, the Native American tribe that took over a controlling stake in the club last November.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
While Bottas has not been officially confirmed as a Cadillac driver, several reports have claimed that he will be announced soon.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The billowing retaliations over the redistricting push soon followed.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
25 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Tanner, who is quite religious, was doing the latter.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Most of the utensils were pretty cheap, quite worn, and really should have been tossed a long time ago—including my black plastic spatula.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
And high temperatures will be fairly pleasant, in the high 70s to low 80s range.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Those who violate the law should answer for it, but those who are charged with enforcing the law have the moral responsibility to do so humanely, fairly and justly.—
David Kay,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Powell is also expected to announce a reversal of a 5-year-old policy shift that could keep interest rates somewhat higher over the long term.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Those extra reps add up, which leads to a somewhat surprising conclusion.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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