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
Optimism isn’t denying reality, but rather choosing a hopeful and constructive way of interpreting it.
—
Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Their hometown is, rather, an alternate universe where Lear’s vision of American progress prevails—where people talk things out, jokes repair societal schisms, love wins, and bigots face consequences.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
Moreover, Desiree’s approach to that predicament is particularly on point because, as Cox argues, this is not a time to bury our heads in the sand, but rather to insist on joy despite the pain.
—James Factora, Them, 6 Feb. 2025
Instead for the holiday of love this year studios are seeing red — not for Valentines but rather blood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rather 
Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Their hometown is, rather, an alternate universe where Lear’s vision of American progress prevails—where people talk things out, jokes repair societal schisms, love wins, and bigots face consequences.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
Moreover, Desiree’s approach to that predicament is particularly on point because, as Cox argues, this is not a time to bury our heads in the sand, but rather to insist on joy despite the pain.
—James Factora, Them, 6 Feb. 2025
Instead for the holiday of love this year studios are seeing red — not for Valentines but rather blood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
By Emily Tannenbaum February 17, 2025 The SNL 50 Anniversary Special was the hottest ticket in town on February 16—preferably right next to Emma Stone and her custom Louis Vuitton dress filled with popcorn.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
17 Feb. 2025
-
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
The Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
That era was a tough one for Letterman, who was thought to be a shoo-in to replace Carson but NBC opted to go with Jay Leno instead.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
-
But at the end of the 2020 season, Honda decided to exit the sport again, which was justified at the time as necessary so that the company could focus those resources on alternative powertrains instead.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
11 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
And $400 is a pretty damn good discount for a machine like this one.—
John Mihaly,
PCMAG,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Charles Franklin: There Are Mixed Feelings About Trump Usually approval and favorability track pretty closely.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
That capacitance is relatively easy to measure, allowing the team to track the behavior of the nearby wire.—
John Timmer,
Ars Technica,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Mortgage rates have followed the trend of longer-term Treasury yields, which have remained relatively high in part because the U.S. economy has remained remarkably solid and because inflation hasn’t eased as much as hoped.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
They could soon be joined by tens of thousands of Syrians forcibly deported by neighboring countries that may use Assad’s departure as a pretext to expel them.—
Jesse Marks,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Book soon, past events have filled up with thousands of visitors.—
Anna Spiegel,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Even if your skin is quite resilient, the best body washes for sensitive skin can benefit all skin types for their soothing, usually minimalist formulations.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Allure,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The landscape of the women’s game, though getting more crowded with real contenders, is not quite there yet.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Especially since this is a fairly quiet Red Wings team outside of Fischer.—
Max Bultman,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
-
In California, due to Santa Ana wind events and periods of extensive dryness, the risks of wildfires are fairly well known and acknowledged, as are the extensive mitigation options to prevent fires and control those that occur.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Hazel’s magical threads can be fashioned into a temporary glider or a grappling hook to help with platforming, used to conjure spectral objects that seem somewhat stuck between worlds, and wielded in battle to push enemies away and pull them towards her.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Although the Justice Department, the FBI, and the IRS remained somewhat politicized through the 1970s, a series of post-Watergate reforms effectively ended partisan weaponization of these institutions.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rather
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
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