as in options
the power, right, or opportunity to choose
there's no alternative: we must cross the stream to reach our destination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alternatives
Families who rely on school buses, particularly for students with special needs, may need to plan for alternatives.
—
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Lower-alcohol options, spritzes and non-alcoholic alternatives are all gaining traction as younger consumers seek to balance social lives with wellness and next-day productivity.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
This combination of legal excellence and genuine local expertise separates truly effective personal injury representation from the alternatives in a market as competitive as South Florida.
—Anton Lucanus
april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Although originally pitched as cheaper, simpler alternatives to cable, streaming services have seen subscription prices balloon.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The growth in popularity of these events is fueled by a generational shift in socializing, an embrace of sober nightlife alternatives, and community building through culture sharing.
—Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
Boutique hotels, guesthouses and women-only accommodations are great alternatives.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
The United States and its allies have depleted their stocks of expensive air-defense missiles to try to shoot them down, forcing governments across the Middle East to rush-order cheaper alternatives, such as interceptors manufactured in Ukraine.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
In his notice, Nordseth demanded the city halt all funding for the project, rescind the original 2024 agreement and explore lower-cost alternatives, such as using the American Airlines Center.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Lower-alcohol options, spritzes and non-alcoholic alternatives are all gaining traction as younger consumers seek to balance social lives with wellness and next-day productivity.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
This combination of legal excellence and genuine local expertise separates truly effective personal injury representation from the alternatives in a market as competitive as South Florida.
—Anton Lucanus
april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Although originally pitched as cheaper, simpler alternatives to cable, streaming services have seen subscription prices balloon.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The growth in popularity of these events is fueled by a generational shift in socializing, an embrace of sober nightlife alternatives, and community building through culture sharing.
—Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
Boutique hotels, guesthouses and women-only accommodations are great alternatives.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
The United States and its allies have depleted their stocks of expensive air-defense missiles to try to shoot them down, forcing governments across the Middle East to rush-order cheaper alternatives, such as interceptors manufactured in Ukraine.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
In his notice, Nordseth demanded the city halt all funding for the project, rescind the original 2024 agreement and explore lower-cost alternatives, such as using the American Airlines Center.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternatives
Noun
-
Are there family-friendly options?—
Adam Bell
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Elders and their families do have options, lawyers emphasized.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The viral video appeared to take that emphasis to an extreme, leaning heavily into dramatic editing choices more commonly associated with cinematic productions than traditional albums.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The star running back and four-star recruit fielded offers from numerous Power Five schools, and had narrowed his choices down to the Fighting Irish along with Indiana, Penn State and Georgia.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alternatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternatives. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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