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
Some alternatives include bamboo, silk, and wax blends. Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 20 Feb. 2025 But the alternative to the hypocrisies of soft power and the postwar liberal order was never going to be a chastened, humbler American foreign policy—neither the left’s fantasy of a plus-size Norway nor the right’s of a return to the isolationist 1920s. George Packer, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Advice for the Baby Name Controversy Commenters were quick to offer some alternative baby name options, but many had the same advice for the poster: just use the original name choice. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 18 Feb. 2025 In its place is the Terran Empire, a brutal and colonizing force that encapsulates the terrifying darkness of this alternative world. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alternative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternative
Noun
  • Buk Clinic Another leading option located in Istanbul, Buk Clinic provides patients with exceptional care through minimally invasive techniques.
    Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Almost everyone has had the experience of propping up their phone while cooking and trying to follow a recipe, so Apple designed recipe functionality that allows for users to search by ingredient, by length of time to complete the meal, simplicity, type of cuisine, and a slew of other options.
    Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • My fiancé has a 2-year-old son and due to alternate work schedules, the child spends the days with my fiance and then nights with his mother.
    Jann Blackstone, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
  • After a late withdrawal from 2024 Olympic alternate Tiana Sumanasekera due to illness, many expected 2024 Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera to run away with the meet.
    Caroline Price, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Others pointed out that nontraditional leaders have been finding themselves at the helm of major universities, giving University of Miami as an example.
    Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The 5-foot-6 senior scored 43 points, grabbed 10 points and stole 15 passes to clinch a nontraditional triple double.
    Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Many Cybertruck social media groups contain examples of drivers being targeted for their vehicle of choice, while news reports show multiple dealerships have been victimized by anti-Musk vandals, USA TODAY reported.
    Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
  • So then the Pixies choice eventually evolved into Living Colour.
    Billboard Staff, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Deeper Connect has a few benefits over traditional VPNs, including Military-grade encryption, 300Mbps server speeds, built-in ad blocking, and optional parental controls.
    StackCommerce Team (Sponsored), PCMAG, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Layer, in order, a bottom bun, Boston lettuce (optional), shrimp patty, mango slaw and, last, the top bun.
    Jessica Fields, Essence, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Two of this year’s contenders hope to chart an unconventional path.
    Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
  • In Nobody Wants This, an agnostic podcast host and an unconventional rabbi on the rebound walk into a party.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The top sub-sectors were semiconductors, technology hardware, and national defense distribution, while coal, consumer discretionary distribution, and household appliances were the worst.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Others propose cutting discretionary spending, but these programs account for only one-third of the federal budget, making even the most aggressive cuts politically unacceptable without making much dent in our debt.
    Veronique De Rugy, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Those underground punks went so hard that NBC was bombarded with complaints in real time, leading the network to cut away from the performance to a pre-recorded sketch.
    Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
  • As previously reported by The News, the MTA has been struggling to fix a 2,000 foot underground pipe at the facility since 2021, when the line responsible for feeding the sprinkler system from the city main failed to hold pressure.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alternative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternative. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

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