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
No, the worst Christopher Reeve Superman film is not the embarrassing Cannon Films installment but rather the one featuring a world-class comedian, a woman turning into a computer, and a terrific junkyard battle between Clark Kent and his belligerent jerk doppelganger.
—
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025
The first, rather vacuous season hinges in part on whether the Russells’ neighbor—the huffy, old-money Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski)—will ever cross Sixty-first Street to visit.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The roles aren't based on age, but rather discipline.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 July 2025
His views on the current state of cinema are rather depressing.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025
The first, rather vacuous season hinges in part on whether the Russells’ neighbor—the huffy, old-money Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski)—will ever cross Sixty-first Street to visit.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The roles aren't based on age, but rather discipline.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 July 2025
His views on the current state of cinema are rather depressing.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
Packed to the brim with all the essential vitamins and minerals a person could need, just two capsules a day (preferably taken with breakfast) provides a solid nutritional foundation without the hassle of juggling multiple supplements.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 July 2025
-
Give the plants a spot in a south- or west-facing window, preferably, says Berendsen.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
23 July 2025
Adverb
-
Marten did not answer the question, asking instead why she was being arrested.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
19 July 2025
-
Manufacturers tend not to announce their cancellations but instead hope that people forget about their original proposals.—
Aarian Marshall,
Wired News,
19 July 2025
Adverb
-
Even the title phrase, which Francis immediately fell for, falls pretty squarely in line with classic country wordplay and lyrical imagery.—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
21 July 2025
-
But to concentrate their efforts on what will benefit the fish the most, scientists still need to answer some pretty fundamental questions about how smelt use their delta.—
Moira Donovan,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 July 2025
Adverb
-
King, one of the most extraordinary living Americans and once (frankly, still) one of the most famous women in the world, came fully out of the closet relatively late in life, and the scenes involve King’s loving but traditional Southern California parents accepting the lesbian couple.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
-
And yet, Lerman, now 33, manages to keep a relatively low profile.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
25 July 2025
Adverb
-
Also, take note that if the disappearance or reappearance of a star occurs near or soon after the start of civil twilight (roughly 40 minutes before sunrise), it is assumed that the sky would probably be too bright to easily see it.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
19 July 2025
-
That said, depending on how things unfold in training camp, the next phase of the franchise could begin sooner than initially anticipated.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Adverb
-
But nothing quite compares to the beauty of the Greek Islands, which make for a picture-perfect retirement destination.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
21 July 2025
-
But there quite clearly remains a lot of work to do.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
21 July 2025
Adverb
-
All looked fairly predictable, and then the second Trump administration changed policies significantly.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
The vineyards in the region are fairly homogenous and the vines healthy, thanks to mild weather conditions.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 July 2025
Adverb
-
If the system strengthens into a tropical storm or hurricane, its path would be somewhat unusual.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
15 July 2025
-
China's trading relationship with the U.S. somewhat stabilized in June, after negotiators secured a tariff truce in early May.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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