17
rather(adverb, conjunction, sooner, preferably, alternatively)
13
alternatively(adverb, rather, otherwise, sooner, conversely)
12
preferably(adverb, rather, sooner, alternatively)
7
instead of(verb, expression, adverb, phrasal verb, conjunction)
6
in lieu(expression, idiom, adverb, rather, alternatively)
6
in place of(verb, expression, adverb, phrasal verb, rather)
6
in lieu of(verb, expression, idiom, adverb, phrasal verb)
5
more willingly(expression, idiom, adverb, sooner, preferably)
3
as an alternative(expression, idiom, adverb, rather, alternatively)
3
before(adverb, rather)
3
sooner(adverb, rather, preferably)
3
for
3
in preference to(adverb, rather)
3
more readily(expression, idiom, adverb, sooner, preferably)
3
or(conjunction, rather, either)
2
as contrasted with(adverb, rather)
2
as opposed to(adverb, rather)
2
faute de mieux(expression, idiom, adverb, rather, substitution)
2
first(adverb, rather, sooner, preferably)
2
however(adverb, also, despite, beside, nevertheless)
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APASmart Define. (2016). Instead thesaurus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/instead/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "Instead thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/instead/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, Instead thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/instead/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "Instead thesaurus" 31 March 2016. Web. 20 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/instead/thesaurus/synonyms>