alternative 1 of 2

alternative

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun alternative contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of alternative are choice, election, option, preference, and selection. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

When can choice be used instead of alternative?

The words choice and alternative are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

In what contexts can election take the place of alternative?

The synonyms election and alternative are sometimes interchangeable, but election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

When is option a more appropriate choice than alternative?

The meanings of option and alternative largely overlap; however, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When would preference be a good substitute for alternative?

While in some cases nearly identical to alternative, preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

Where would selection be a reasonable alternative to alternative?

The words selection and alternative can be used in similar contexts, but selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alternative
Noun
The strangulation of our economy is rooted in a toxic mix of spending, taxing and regulating that leaves our population, our workers and our businesses gasping for relief and grasping for alternatives. John Teichert, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2025 But funding agencies in the US and elsewhere are only just beginning to incentivize scientists to develop alternatives. Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Gold vermeil, for example, is a less expensive, but still great-looking, alternative to solid gold. Mekaylah Yowpp-Hernacki, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2025 Other alternative manager companies also struggled amid the economic uncertainty. Jeff Marks, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alternative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternative
Noun
  • But apart from price and screen size options, what separates these two tablets?
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 5 Mar. 2025
  • One of the officials said the Department of Homeland Security is currently going with other options, but the Pentagon is standing by in case it is asked to provide more flights.
    Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In Bond, characters can’t cross over to alternate realities and meet other versions of themselves.
    Colin Burnett, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Insights deploys the Times’ in-house Graphene AI content management system to determine a story’s bias, running a word-by-word analysis to generate an alternate view.
    CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Known for its nontraditional approach to Japanese cuisine, the upscale Uchi was at the forefront of Wynwood’s ongoing shift from taco and pizza joints and craft beer bars to focusing on upscale restaurants.
    Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Other celebrities who have been open about having multiple partners and nontraditional relationships include Nick Cannon, Janelle Monáe, Joey Bada$$, Will Smith, and more.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Although that stretch of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré has been plagued by disruptions, due to its proximity to the Élysée presidential palace, the designer is confident in her choice.
    Joelle Diderich, WWD, 4 Mar. 2025
  • This in and of itself seems standard fare for a business choice like this.
    Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The new Certificate of Need process would shorten many of those time frames, with the period to determine the completion of applications shrinking from 30 to just three days followed by decision deadlines cut in half and public hearings made optional, according to a release from Anwar.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Photo : Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Sotheby's The interior is evocative of a bygone era where toggle switches were standard and seat belts were optional.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • However, the path to gaining such a naturalized vision of peace requires us to revisit some of the lessons of unconventional diplomacy that consider broader planetary imperatives of sustainability.
    Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Guests flocked to the espresso martini bar (which concealed a secret door leading to a private lounge where a few discreetly slipped away) or lounged in the outdoor living room, where swinging beds served as unconventional seating.
    Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Reconciliation is not used to address discretionary spending.
    Alison Griffin, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Trump’s order At its heart, Trump’s executive order would offer discretionary grants and issue guidance to states over using federal funds within this K-12 scholarship program.
    Suzanne Eckes, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The discovery, which the Politecnico di Milano announced in January, came about through a series of surveys that aimed to digitize the 15th century Sforza Castle’s underground structures through nondestructive methods such as ground-penetrating radar and laser scanning.
    Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
  • In his absence, Limonov had become an underground legend.
    James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alternative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternative. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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