Rather than is a conjunction used to introduce an alternative choice or preference. There are several synonyms for this phrase such as "instead of," "in place of," "alternatively," "as opposed to," and "rather." "Instead of" implies a choice between two options where one is more preferable than the other. "In place of" suggests a substitution or replacement of something or someone. "Alternatively" implies a choice between two options where both are equally valid. "As opposed to" suggests a contrasting opinion or an alternative view. "Rather" suggests a preference for one option over the other. All of these synonyms can be used interchangeably with "rather than" to convey an alternative choice or preference.