alternatively

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

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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 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 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 Some also — or alternatively — include a steak knife set. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 19 June 2026 The other three acres are rented out to a local farmer for soybeans and field corn alternatively. Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternatively
alternately
Adverb
  • Flitting between deadpan sorrow and impassioned romance, Bridgers’ album is alternately spooky, hilarious, mysterious and sneakily moving.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Carol is alternately enchanted and frustrated by her husband’s innocence and altruism, which led him to his not particularly remunerative career as an interpreter.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026

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“Alternatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternatively. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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