Thesaurus results for ALTERNATIVELY

alternatively

adverb

as in alternately

in place of another option We could go out for dinner or, alternatively, we could get takeout.

Related Words

Relevance

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 alternatively Accessed by some steps between the bathroom and bedroom, it's shown here furnished with a couple of single beds but could alternatively be used to stash belongings or as a kid's room or general hangout space. — New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026 Might that be because this particular partner would include politicians prone to grandstanding — or, alternatively, focused more on mundane issues such as schools and crime than on horse racing? — Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 That Amazon does not hit new all-time highs between now and late September, or alternatively is unlikely to fall through its pre-earnings levels. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Or, alternatively, importers register arriving tankers as empty or near-empty. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 As the judge noted in a footnote, the plaintiffs sought a TRO and, alternatively, a PI. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Cecchi recommends visiting from April to June or alternatively in September or October, when the weather is pleasant and the city feels slightly less crowded. — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 For individuals whose symptoms persist despite medication, surgery may alternatively offer significant relief. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026 While proper care and a regular cleaning schedule can help extend a mattress’s lifespan, there are some common everyday habits that can, alternatively, shorten it. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternatively

alternately

Adverb

The Islamic Republic has alternately—or simultaneously—behaved like a cause and a rational nation.

— Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
The $4 billion white steel, glass, and marble design by the Spanish Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava — alternately compared to a cathedral and a whale carcass — looks and feels like nothing else on the planet, much less a mall.

— Anne Kadet, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of alternately

Browse Nearby Words

alternative

alternatively

alternatives

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Alternatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternatively. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of alternatively

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes