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
Most likely, their vanishing was not the result of direct contact with humans but, rather, was caused by the depletion of the large animals that were key to their diet.
—
D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Last year featured a quirky and rather enjoyable mystery focusing on why a minor character Susan Triad (Susan Twist) kept appearing in every episode.
—Scott Bryan, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
Health concerns weren’t the only reason for the ban, however; rather, some voters believed claims that fluoridation was part of a communist plot against the country.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford are opening the year on the IL, a rather rough introduction for a rotation that is high on upside and low on durability.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Last year featured a quirky and rather enjoyable mystery focusing on why a minor character Susan Triad (Susan Twist) kept appearing in every episode.
—Scott Bryan, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
Health concerns weren’t the only reason for the ban, however; rather, some voters believed claims that fluoridation was part of a communist plot against the country.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford are opening the year on the IL, a rather rough introduction for a rotation that is high on upside and low on durability.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
For kids 6 and older, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends behavior therapy and medication, preferably together.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
The Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
Her approach extends beyond immediate intervention, focusing instead on helping parents and caregivers recognize and manage their own emotions, in order to create safe spaces where children can learn and grow.—
Lauren Carpenter,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
-
With his ship now loaded well beyond its normal capacity, the Carpathia’s captain didn’t concern himself with the bodies of the dead but instead set a course for New York City.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
This pan is pretty middle of the pack performance-wise.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Senior forward Mariel Lopez is pretty philosophical about her game for East Aurora.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
But if Trump lowers them through negotiations relatively quickly, the worst-case scenario can be avoided.—
Time,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Eventually, the relatively small investment saw a huge spike in value.—
Rodolfo Delgado,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Federal charges may soon follow, but that will not become clear until Monday at the earliest.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The women on board could soon be heard whooping in joy as three massive parachutes deployed after about nine minutes into the flight and the capsule made a soft landing two minutes later in the desert, sending up plumes of dust.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
There are few experiences that encapsulate the magic of New York City quite like seeing a Broadway show.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
None have made a splash quite like The Devonshire, a Georgian-era Soho boozer that publican Oisín Rogers, Charlie Carroll, and chef Ashley Palmer-Watts have transformed into one of the hottest tickets in town.—
Amiel Stanek,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
They are caught up in a process that is fairly opaque, strangely inconsistent, bloated by paperwork and resistant to fast-tracking.—
Phil Hay,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The mother, who has been named Petals since being found, is about the size of a beagle and appears to be fairly young, according to animal control.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
But the prolific writer-director’s latest provides an illustration of how the genre became somewhat fossilized via formulaic writing and overexposure even before 1950s television began churning out Western content in bulk.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Brother handles this somewhat differently than other manufacturers.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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