alternatives
Different available paths
Alternatives are the available options when a choice must be made.
If one path is blocked, you consider alternatives.
The word implies at least two possibilities: We have no alternative but to proceed.
Alternative as an adjective describes something outside the mainstream: alternative medicine, alternative music, alternative lifestyle.
These uses suggest deviation from conventional choices—different approaches for those who reject the standard.
Mixed collection of things
- diversityState of varied elements
- rangeExtent of variation
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- arrayOrdered collection or display
selection · multiplicity · plurality · medley · mixture · options · choices · spread
What takes another's place
- substituteReplacement for another
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- surrogateOne acting for another
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
equivalent · backup · plan B · reserve · fill-in · understudy · deputy · stopgap
Available course of action
- selectionChosen item or items
- pickPointed breaking tool
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
- decisionSettled course of action
choice · determination · judgment · verdict · resolution · deliberation · evaluation · consideration
assortment
Mixed collection of things
array · selection · multiplicity · plurality · medley · mixture · options · choices · spread · gamut
replacement
What takes another's place
- substituteReplacement for another
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- surrogateOne acting for another
stand-in · equivalent · backup · plan B · reserve · fill-in · understudy · deputy · stopgap · workaround
option
Available course of action
- selectionChosen item or items
- pickPointed breaking tool
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
decision · choice · determination · judgment · verdict · resolution · deliberation · evaluation · consideration · assessment
option
Available course of action
- possibilityState of being achievable
- potentialLatent capacity for development
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
opportunity · avenue · pathway · route · approach · method · strategy · solution · scenario · course
fork
Tined eating tool
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
split · deviation · departure · detour · offshoot · tangent · variant · diversion
- Consumer Choiceshopping, brands, options, preference, comparison
- Decision Analysiscriteria, ranking, weighting, trade-off, scoring
- buying factorsprice, cost, value, quality, brand
- decision makingchoice, preference, picking, selection, options
- decisionschoice, make a decision, choices, yes, no
- judgmentgood judgment, sound judgment, discernment, prudence, judiciousness
alternativesdefault
Preset standard option
first choice · standard · original · mainstream · status quo
alternativesonly option
no choice · necessity · inevitability · Hobson's choice · fait accompli
alternativesrequirement
Mandatory condition to fulfill
mandate · obligation · compulsion · constraint · dictate
- no alternativeSole available course
- alternative routeSecondary path available
- alternative universeHypothetical divergent reality
- alternative rockNon-mainstream guitar-driven genre
- alternative energyNon-fossil fuel sources
- alternative schoolsNonstandard educational institutions
alternative, alternatively, alternative medicine, alternative energy