as in rather
as a substitute
I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead
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Recent Examples of instead
They have been used ever since, except for Super Bowl 50, where the number was used instead because NFL ad designers felt Super Bowl L was too unattractive and unmarketable.
—
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
However, Zelenskyy, backed by European leaders and some members of Congress, has insisted that the sanctions regime against Russia must instead be tightened to starve the Russian war machine of revenue and Western technological components.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Healey avoided answering the question, instead stating that Massachusetts officials tipped off the feds to the $7 million SNAP fraud scheme uncovered by Foley’s office in December.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
This goes to show that a policy designed to lower costs could instead eliminate access altogether.
—Julio Fuentes, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instead
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
However, Zelenskyy, backed by European leaders and some members of Congress, has insisted that the sanctions regime against Russia must instead be tightened to starve the Russian war machine of revenue and Western technological components.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Healey avoided answering the question, instead stating that Massachusetts officials tipped off the feds to the $7 million SNAP fraud scheme uncovered by Foley’s office in December.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
This goes to show that a policy designed to lower costs could instead eliminate access altogether.
—Julio Fuentes, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instead
rather
Adverb
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For another, this drubbing, unlike many previous ones, was triggered not by fears of a bubble but rather concern that AI is on the verge of supplanting the business models of a wide swathe of companies that doomsayers have long predicted were at risk.—
Brody Ford,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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According to this idea, although these objects may look like supersize red stars, their shine is powered not by standard stellar thermonuclear fusion but rather by the relentless funneling of burning-hot plasma into the insatiable maw of a snowballing black hole.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instead. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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