rather than
As opposed to
Rather than introduces an alternative that's being rejected or set aside in favor of something else.
It signals preference or contrast: She chose to walk rather than drive, He's stubborn rather than principled.
The phrase can replace instead of in most contexts, though rather than often feels slightly more formal or emphatic.
comparison
As a replacement
- alternativelyBy another choice
- preferablyWith stated preference
- soonerEarlier or preferably
- overAbove or exceeding
versus · as opposed to · in lieu of · in place of · contrarily · conversely · oppositely · on the contrary
instead
As a replacement
- alternativelyBy another choice
- preferablyWith stated preference
- soonerEarlier or preferably
over · versus · as opposed to · in lieu of · in place of · contrarily · conversely · oppositely · on the contrary · by choice
- substitution wordsinstead of, in lieu of, replacing, supplanting, superseding
- comparisonscomparison, compare, comparative, analogy, metaphor
- subordinatorsthat, if, because, although, though
- phrasesnoun phrases, noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, prepositional phrases
- compound prepositionsaccording to, because of, due to, instead of, out of
- conjunctionsand, but, or, for, nor
selection/exclusion
rather thanin addition to
Also including
as well as · along with · together with · plus · besides