Looking for synonyms for instead of? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say instead of.
- Rather than
- In place of
- As an alternative to
- Substitute for
- In substitution for
- In lieu of
- As a substitute for
- In favor of
- Over
- Beyond
- In preference to
- As opposed to
- Contrary to
- In exchange for
- Against
- Versus
- As contrasted with
- In contrast to
- In replacement of
- To the exclusion of
Want to learn how to say instead of professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Rather than
Used to suggest a preference for one thing over another.
Example: “We decided to invest in renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels.”
2. In place of
Appropriate for indicating a replacement or substitute.
Example: “In place of the traditional seminar, we will be hosting a virtual event.”
3. As an alternative to
Used when offering another option.
Example: “As an alternative to layoffs, the company is considering short-term furloughs.”
4. Substitute for
Appropriate for something that takes the place of another.
Example: “The manager used video conferencing as a substitute for in-person meetings.”
5. In substitution for
Used to indicate replacing one thing with another.
Example: “In substitution for the annual bonus, employees received additional vacation days.”
6. In lieu of
Appropriate for instead of, typically in formal contexts.
Example: “In lieu of traditional advertising, the company focused on social media marketing.”
7. As a substitute for
Used to indicate something that is used instead of something else.
Example: “The team used digital whiteboards as a substitute for physical meeting spaces.”
8. In favor of
Appropriate for showing preference for one thing over another.
Example: “The committee voted in favor of the new policy change.”
9. Over
Used to suggest choosing one option over another.
Example: “The director chose remote workshops over in-person training sessions.”
10. Beyond
Appropriate for suggesting something that goes further than another option.
Example: “The research went beyond traditional methods to include innovative approaches.”
11. In preference to
Used to indicate a choice or preference for one thing over another.
Example: “In preference to outsourcing, the company decided to train internal staff.”
12. As opposed to
Appropriate for contrasting one thing with another.
Example: “The team focused on quality, as opposed to speed, in product development.”
13. Contrary to
Used to indicate a choice or action that is different from another.
Example: “Contrary to the usual procedure, the meeting was held virtually.”
14. In exchange for
Appropriate for something that is given as a replacement for something else.
Example: “Employees received additional health benefits in exchange for a smaller raise.”
15. Against
Used to indicate preference or choice in opposition to something.
Example: “The board decided against the merger after evaluating all factors.”
16. Versus
Appropriate for indicating a direct comparison or opposition between two choices.
Example: “The debate is about automation versus human labor in manufacturing.”
17. As contrasted with
Used to compare one thing in contrast to another.
Example: “As contrasted with the previous model, the new design is more energy-efficient.”
18. In contrast to
Appropriate for highlighting differences between two things.
Example: “In contrast to the last quarter, the company saw a significant increase in sales.”
19. In replacement of
Used to indicate something that replaces another.
Example: “The company implemented a new software system in replacement of the outdated one.”
20. To the exclusion of
Appropriate for indicating that one thing is chosen to the exclusion of others.
Example: “The focus on product development occurred to the exclusion of market research.”
