Instead of is a phrase that is commonly used to indicate a choice between two options. However, there are several synonyms that can be used in its place. One such word is "rather than", which indicates a preference for one option over another. Another synonym is "in place of", which refers to substituting one thing for another. "As an alternative to" can also be used to indicate a choice between two things. "In lieu of" is another option, indicating that one option is being used instead of another. Finally, "substituting" or "replacing" can be used to indicate a change from one option to another.