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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rather
Trump and Musk traded barbs in a rather public feud, with the U.S. president threatening to pull back billions of dollars in government contracts for Musk's companies, while the Tesla CEO suggested Trump could not have won the election without him.
—
Anniek Bao,dylan Butts,sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Ten years later, Jamie Wyeth remains not only my favorite artist but a rather unexpected style muse for his unapologetically unique dress sense.
—Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 6 June 2025
But Pedro, or Joel, rather, is so painfully handsome, whoever was describing him to Abby couldn’t overlook that fact.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 25 May 2025
While Lamont points with pride to the large surpluses achieved during his tenure, critics say these weren’t inessential funds but rather were leeched from core programs that have been dangerously undermined.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Anniek Bao,dylan Butts,sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Ten years later, Jamie Wyeth remains not only my favorite artist but a rather unexpected style muse for his unapologetically unique dress sense.
—Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 6 June 2025
But Pedro, or Joel, rather, is so painfully handsome, whoever was describing him to Abby couldn’t overlook that fact.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 25 May 2025
While Lamont points with pride to the large surpluses achieved during his tenure, critics say these weren’t inessential funds but rather were leeched from core programs that have been dangerously undermined.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
Boats are only allowed beyond those points, preferably to watch from the ocean, by taking a vessel out to nearby Zach’s Bay.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2025
-
Scarpa recommends picking a heat pump with the highest seasonal energy efficiency rating, preferably above 15.—
Khanh T.L. Tran,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
Adverb
-
And the state instead just decided to attack his credibility.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
-
Focus your energy instead on compromise and long-term peace with the right people.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 June 2025
Adverb
-
Nobody really changes, nobody really learns anything and at the start of every episode the characters pretty much exactly the same.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
-
Plus, its polished collar, elbow-length sleeves, and pretty blue color look so similar to Swift’s top.—
Averi Baudler,
People.com,
3 June 2025
Adverb
-
And what about billionaire Angeleno Rick Caruso, a relatively recent entrant to the Democratic Party?—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
-
Being more affordable and without a human in the cockpit makes each unit relatively more expendable, adding versatility to how they are deployed in combat situations.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
Adverb
-
In Osceola, officials plan to soon implement FloodWise, a software technology that can predict where flooding will occur at the street level up to three days in advance of an approaching storm.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 June 2025
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Few Floridians will soon forget the night in October 2024 when Hurricane Milton ripped apart large sections of the roof of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field, with winds estimated to have reached 120 mph.—
Jenna DiPaolo,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2025
Adverb
-
Quartz’s Catherine Baab has more on the art of not quite dealing.—
Quartz Staff,
Quartz,
3 June 2025
-
Though the two shows are quite distinct, Wilford, who is curating her final show for MoCA after moving to the Memphis Art Museum in January, hopes viewers will be able to envelop themselves in each.—
DOUGLAS MARKOWITZ,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Adverb
-
Even the fairly aggressive background blur the game uses looks toned down on the Switch 2.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 June 2025
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Of course, given the ubiquity of such ambitious politicians of all flavors, everywhere, all the time, the charge of cynical opportunism has fairly short legs.—
Dain Fitzgerald,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
Adverb
-
Some have said that the dollar’s reserve currency status may be affected, perhaps diminished somewhat – which would have many ramifications, including a rise in the cost to the U.S. for financing its deficits.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
But despite these clear advantages, Cardoso’s rookie season was somewhat muted.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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