Rather
Rather adverb - By choice or preference.
Very likely and rather are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Very likely" instead an adverb "Rather".
Very likely
Rather and very likely are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Rather" instead an adverb phrase "Very likely".
Mutual synonyms
Both terms in one sentence
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As they killed each other rather than themselves, it's very likely that the women and children didn't have a choice in the matter.
Source: Last Stand - He was never mentioned in the first season and anyone unfamiliar with the legend would very likely assume it was a question of when and how rather than if he was going to die.
Source: Fauxshadow - You were very likely to get some random cantina alien rather than fan-favorite characters from the movies.
Source: CCG Importance Dissonance
Cite this Source
Very likely and Rather. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/rather/very_likely
Rather & Very likely. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/rather/very_likely>.
Very likely or Rather. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/rather/very_likely.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "rather" and "very likely" have occurred on timeline